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Campbellsville Ky.
Hon. Tho. E. Bramlet
Gov. of Ky.
Dear Gov.
On reaching here from Columbia I learn that John H. Hardin of Marion Cty. I learn has been has been convicted & sentanced to the penetentiary, the circumstances attending, his conviction will be detailed to you by those who know them better than I. I do not know Mr. Hardin personally, but I have reliable information that he is an orderly citizen, has been engaged in as an officer in the homeguard service of his country, and has discharged his duty as such in a commendable manner, and for an official act done in good faith as I am credibly informed he has been prosecuted and convicted. Their is one circumstance, of his life of which I am acquainted, that goes fair to establish a good character as law abiding orderly man, -- Some time last summer or perhaps rather in the spring, of the year I had two horses stolen from my Waggon on the road not fair distant from Muldres Hill, This man Hardin being in the neighborhood suspected that he could catch the rogues & get the horses
he gets one or two men to go with him, they went the next nite after the horses were stolen, and after wrideing a considerable distance, sure enough overhalls two men with the solen horses, they got one of the men, the other got away from them, it being in the nite -- they brought the man which they caught and the stolen horses back to new market, he was tryed by a court of enquiry, & held to bail, for want of bail was commited to jail -- In this he exhibited most clearly great avertion to violation of law and good order, and a readiness to make personal sacrifice to bring bad men to justice -- This was done by Hardin because of the breach of law, good order, & the crime and not for favour to me, for he had no personal acquaintance with me. ^When you shall be fully advised in the premises You will^ pardon me Governor for saying that to mymind this is a clear case for Executive clemency -- Inconsequence of a small portion of verbage in the large and respectable petition in his behalf shewed me this evening I could not sign it but I hartily ^& most earnestly.^ join in the prayer for John ^H^ Hardin's pardon
Very Truly
Yr. friend & hum Srvt
Robt Miller