To his excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Your petitioner Elisha Clark would state that he ^is^ now upwards of fifty five years of age he has sum seven children from the age of six years to twenty two Your petitioner is himself of feeble constitution and his wife is now prostrated by an attack of inflamatory rheumatism Your petitioner is to day worth about five hundred dollars He states that some time since his oldest son unfortunately fell into bad company and was found traveling together with men who had stolen or some way got possession of two mules not their own The entire company was arrested and tried for Larceny the by the county judge of Marion county and sent on to further trial the and required to give bail in the sum of $500 each. in default of Bail his son was committed to a loathsome Jail after he had remained there some time your petitioner yealding to the suggestions of paternal feeling became bound in the sum of $500.00 for his appearance at the June term of the Marion circuit court This said son failed to appear and the bond was forfeited and a summons on said forfeiture was this day served upon your petitioner and is made part hereof To pay the bail will take all the earthly goods your petitioner has or nearly all and leave him ^thus destitute^ in the decline of life to take care of his afflicted wife the helpless children If your petitioner and his wife were not denied the ordinary measure of health they could meet with composure the just requirements of the law but such are is their condition as above plainly and truthfully