<title type="main">W. M. Samuels et al. to Thomas E. Bramlette

To his Excellency The Governor of Kentucky,

The undersigned, your petitioners, respectfully represent that at the May term 1861 of the Hickman Equity & Criminal Court the bond of R. W. Walker, J. W. Lockridge, Wm Lindsay, John D. Harlan & M. L. Stoner, for the appearance of John Sanders to answer a charge of larceny, was taken for forfeited; and at the August term 1863 ^of the Hickman Circuit Court^ judgment on said forfeiture was taken against R. W. Walker & M. L. Stoner jointly for the amount of said bond, viz: two hundred and fifty dollars -- the other obligors on the bond not having been served with summons in time for said August term. R. W. Walker & M. L. Stoner will have to pay to the Commonwealth one hundred and seventy five dollars upon said judgment, (they having already paid to P. D. Yeiser the Commonwealth's Atty, seventy five dollars, his thirty per centum upon said judgment) unless releived by interposition of executive clemency.

Petitioners will now state that John Sanders was a boy of 14 or 15 years of age whose parents then and now are residents of East Tennessee, but

having friends and relatives at ClintonHickman CountyKy (a portion of whom are on the bond aforesaid) John, the boy, was left at Clinton to go to school. While at school he stole from a play mate an old silver watch and for this offense was by an examining court held to bail in the sum of $250 for his appearance at the Equity & Criminal Court. After giving the bond John remained at Clinton some weeks but being twitted and jeered by his play-mates with theft he ran away and went home, as we presume. The boy's mother, Mrs Sanders, informed her friends at Clinton before the theft occurred that John from early childhood had been afflicted with a monomania for stealing -- that he always readily gave up whatever he might take when called upon to do so and always seemed unable to comprehend the serious nature of his offenses. He was a liberal hearted and affectionate boy, with no unusual defect of character or disposition save his innate and unconquerable propensity to steal.

Before the May term 1861 of the Hickman Equity & Criminal Court, at which Sanders was to appear, the Great Rebellion which has afflicted our

Country with so many evils broke out and up to the August 1863 the obligors upon said bond have had no opportunity or chance to go to East Tennessee to compel the attendance of John Sanders. His parents, highly repectable people and good citizens have, as petitioners are informed, been broken up & ruined, by the rebellion which has raged around their home in East Tennessee and will be ill able to reimburse those who have befriended their son to the amount of $250. Upon these facts & representations your petitioners resprectfully pray your Excellency to remit the one hundred and seventy five dollars due to the Commonwealth upon said judgment of the Hickman Circuit Court.

W M Samuels S H C Jos Kennedy A R Boon Thomas G Poore clerk Hickman Cir Ct Geo. B. Moss H. C. Baker of Columbia Ky J M. Bigger E I Bullock A. S, Arnold Wiley P. Griffey W F Boon Thos Hales W, WhiteP. J. H. C. C.

Hickman Cir Ct vs

Petition of Stoner & others

Walker & Stoner Forfeiture

Remit except fees & costs

Tho E Bramlette

$250 -- Remitted 29th Jany/64