Fulton Circuit Court
Commonwealth
vs
Joel Bekton

In the trial of this case I became satisfied that the lawyers in Fulton about the time of the offense complained of had propagated the idea, no doubt honestly, that a tavern keeper had a right to keep his bar room in a house detached from his tavern house & Bekton tried to set up such a defense his offense was under just such a state of case — I know nothing of the defendant or his personal merits or the general character of his tavern

P D Yeiser
Coml atty
March 1863

Governor Robinson
Dear Sir

Enclosed I send you the petition of M^r Bakton & the above note of the atty for the comnwelth. I know that some of the

attornies in this were of the state & in fact one of the prayers entertained for a while the opinion that the Tavern & Gaming could be kept in different houses & many persons acted accordingly, believing that such was the law, I hope under the circumstances you will remit the fine, Yours &c W, N, Bradley