<title type="main">Lewis Frank and Solomon Shiffner to Thomas E. Bramlette

To His Excellency Hon Thomas E Bramlette Governor of Kentucky

Your petitioners Lewis Frank and Solomon Sheffner (partners under the style of sheffner & Frank) would respectfully represent that at the last October term of the Bourbon Circuit Court they were fined eighty dollars upon an indictment for trading with a slave, The charge in the indictment was true and the following are the circumstances under which it was committed. The undersigned are merchants in Paris Ky and as part of their business frequently purchase various articles of country produce and during the last summer purchased a large amount of wool A negro man named George Dergen who lived in a house apparently his own with his family and carried on business for himself as a freeman came to the store of the undersigned in open day with a small lot of wool which the undersigned purchased from him believing it to be his own and that he was a free man. It turned out however that the said Dergen had purchased himself from his former owner but not being willing to leave the state had induced a friend in whom he had confidence to become nominally his owner and to take the bill of sale in his name so that he was a slave although permitted to go at large and trade for

himself as a free person It turned out also that the woodl had been stolen (although Dergen had always sustained a good reputation for honesty) and the moment the undersigned were enquired of by the person whose wool had been taken they promptly pointed out this lot -- gave all the information in their power which led to the detection of the guilty parties and their punishment and gave up the wool to the proper owner. These facts coming as they do within the letter although not within the Spirit of the law were seized upon ^by a^ person malicious person as a means of venting his personal enmity and made the foundation of the indictment against We pray that so much of the fine as is within the control of the Executive may be remitted

Lewes Frank Solomon Shiffman

The undersign citizens of Bourbon county unite with the foregoing petitioners Sheffner & Frank in soliciting the remission of the fine against them

John A Prall Geo: W. Williams R. J. Brown R, H, Hanson Wm M. Samuel B F Pullen

Jesse H Tallute Tho M Webb John Stuart H, T, Brent C S Brent

From conversation with

From conversation with Col. Prall and other gentlemen. I believe the circumstances set forth in the Petition are True. and concur in its Prayer.

W S Downey

Bourbon Cir Ct vs Shiffner & Frank

Remit except fees & costs

Tho E Bramlette

Trading with Slaves $80 -- Remtd5th Jany 1864