Petition

Sherrod Williams to Beriah Magoffin

1861-01-17

Date of Creation
January 17, 1861
Document Genre
Petition
Repository
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Collection
Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862
Box / Folder
MG24-252 to MG24-253
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-020-2159
Rights
This image and its transcription are freely available to the public. Images appear courtesy of Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Transcriptions and annotations were created by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. When referencing this document, please use our preferred citation.; The use of transcriptions, images, or annotations from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce any material on CWGK is required.
FTP Identifier
32210566

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Dates
1859-03
1861-01-17
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Citation

Sherrod Williams to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-01-17, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-2159 (November 14, 2026).

[Page 1]

To the Govenor of the State of Kentucky The undersigned who was appointed by the court to defend and the Commonwealths atty state that Phillip Cormany was tried and convicted to the Penitentiary of Ky for the period of Seven. years for the killing of a man by the name of Hines at the march Term of the Pulaski Circuit Court 1859 that he is now in said Penatentiary The proof and circumstances in the case abundantly Showed that he was a man of very weak mind approaching very nearly to Idiocy that he was greatly under the influence of Liquor at the time and when under the influence of Liquor he was bereft of what mind he had, that before the Killing took place he had been very badly treated by two men. Shellery and Lynn — one had held him and the other had pissed on him Lynn had drawn a dangerous knife on him twice and made at him to thrust it in him, that Just about the time he shot Hines (which was at the door of ^a^ drinking house, where a good many persons were assembled and drinking Liquor) that Hines Lynn walked to him where he was peaceably standing and Slapped him in the face and ordered him out of the house

[Page 2]

Cormany went out and as he went, Lynn followed him with his knife drawn and Just as Cormany passed out of the door he turned and fired and Hines fell the witness ^thought^ it was Lynn that fell the officer immediately arrested Cormany who asked what for: the officer said for killing that man. Cormany replied I told ^him^ if he drew his knife on him ^me^ again he ^I^ would Kill him; ^It was also proven that the Pistol with which he shot he had taken from another mans Saddebags Just a short time before the shooting^ we think it would be proper to pardon him Jan 17th 1861

Sherrod Williams

I think the foregoing statements tolerably accurate, there was no doubt that Cormony did not intend to kill Hinds. he aimed to shoot Lynn, who was an aggressor upon him at the time
E L VanWinkle atto

Phillip Cormany who is now in the Penitintiary of Kentucky for the killing of Hines is a poor Ignorant creature has a wife and three infant children who have no means of support, we the ^undersigned citizens of Pulaski County^ petition the Govenor to pardon him and Let him come home and work to Keep his wife & children from starvation:

Names
William E Vaught
J C Allman
E. E. Barron
John Owing
M B Perkens
Isaac Gastineau
David R Layday
Henry G. Vaught

Names
J D Cardan on of the Jury
E. S. Salyer
J S Vickery
John O. Ashley
F H Vickery
David Hubble
C C Dosse

[Page 3]

Names
Isaac T. Vaught
Josiah Girler
Benjamin Girdler
A J Gelvin
Joseph Huskerson
J.. Vickery
Robert Randolph.
J. E. Casson
John A Boke
William Vaught
A. H. [Stivers]
W P Maise
F F Vaught
[...] Doss
R Russell
M D. Harney
J. S. Dutten
D, W, Barron
Wm Nunnely
Elisha Dungan
Wm Surber
Wm [culup]
Levi Stubbel
Elisha prue
W M Fox
J W. Bobbitt
W,, W Adams one of Jury
John Smith
J H Davis
E W Sowder —
D Gregory
h hopper
A S Owens

Names
JacobCox
V. W. Allen
J P Nunnelley
E Thompson
R G Vaught
O P Jasper
Thomas Baugh
Jno W Adams
George M. Merrick
Hudson Newby
Thos White
Jesse Purvill
Saml D [Comtrist]
Silas Price J P
T Burham Sheriff
Jos Newchurch
E Carn J P [...]
Williams
Henry [Bergeritt]
John gaston
Willis Eastham, Assesor
John Hall Jr
Daniel McDaniel
Bird S Willison
T Q Elliot
Andrew Ballard
Tom [Dicks]
A. J. Irvin
Alex, R, McKee
Will, C, Curd
J, S, Bishop

[Page 4]

A G Howell
John M Hanby
W G Surber
James Pence
Thomas Z Morrow
Joel Sallee
C B. Backeller
J M Perkins
T. M. Paschal
Joseph Bryant
Milton G Bryant
E Young
James [Harte]
Alvey Vanhook
E D Porch J P C P
John N Allen
W G Mills
Henry Vaught:
E Woolsey
W E Beatie
S W Hail
M V Cundiff
W M Newell
R Gibson
Frank J White
I do not know of my own knowledge the above stated facts but it is Generally been reported to me as above stated
James Eastham
W D Black
Wm Haney
thomas girdler

W M Davis
R. S. Barron
M Singleton
R F Beatie
W D Gosett
M. M. Higgins
John J Griffin
Jones Sutton
John Crawford
Hiram Dugan
[Chrisley Coppenkoffer]
D, F, Cundiff
C P Eastham coronor
John Parrott
V.. B.. Watson
Q. H. More
Wm R Kelly: D S

The petition of the Citizens of Pulaski County for the pardon of Phillip Cormany