Petition

William M. Pratt et al. to James F. Robinson

Place of Creation
Fayette County, Kentucky
Document Genre
Petition
Repository
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Collection
Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons, Remissions, and Respites, 1862-1863
Box / Folder
R4-234 to R4-235
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-029-0459
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
32211661

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Dates
1863-07-18
1863-07-14
1863-08-01
1863-07-14
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Citation

William M. Pratt et al. to James F. Robinson, Office of the Governor, James F. Robinson: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons, Remissions, and Respites, 1862-1863, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-029-0459 (November 13, 2026).

[Page 1]

His Excellency James F Robinson, Governor of Kentucky, Your petitioners would respectfully state, that James H. Hart is sentenced to be hung on Saturday the 18th July — that until this 14th of July he had hopes that an appeal would be granted — that the time is now so short that he will have little chance to prepare for his final and terrible doom. We respectfully ask you to respite his punishment for thirty or sixty days or such time as your Excellency may deem proper.

Gov Robinson- I have acted as the spiritual adviser of Mr Hart, he seems to be Earnestly seeking a preparation for death. I dont think he is prepared, as yet, for that to [...] & dont know that he ever will be but I would be glad to have a longer time to direct his mind

Tho. J. Nichols
J. J. Hunter
James Hanna
W. King
Benj F. Graves
Thos B Megowam
Wm Murphy
Jas. C. Morris
Z. Gibbons.
R. H. Prewitt
Wm Swift (Jury Man)
Chas S Bodley Sheriff
J. M. Elliott (Jury Man)

The man has but four days left the court of appeals held the matter up. strangely- if you can extend the term upon Mr Pratts statements the poor fellow may make some preparation to die-

Respectfully
W S Downey

[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4] Respite granted in this case until 1st August 1863

J F Robinson

Fayette Cir. Ct


Jas H. Hart
Murder
IssdJuly 14th 1863.