<title type="main">John H. Taylor to Thomas E. Bramlette

To. His Excellency Govenor Bramlett

The undersigned John H Taylor petitions your Excellency for pardon

Nearly two years ago he was Indicted for receiving stolen corn Nearly all the witnesses in the case are now gone, and the charge still remains against him. He is a resident citizen of Ohio, which state he expects to make his home, but has kindred here whom he desires occasionaly to see He is a free man of color, and owing to an unjust prejudice against that class of persons at the time the indictment was found, and yet he was advised that he could not get a fair trial He protests his innocence One or two persons seek to annoy him from personal prejudice The indictment has been filed away, and he is assured would not prosecute him further except for the said one, or two persons.

He refers to a copy of the indictment and order as part of this indictment petition

He was born free and is poor and appeals to your Excellency to grant him a pardon, and he knows that the ends of justice will not be interrupted by it

John H Taylor (over)

Lexington, Ky, November 2d, 1865. To His Excellency Govenor Bramlett

The author of the above petition, John H. Taylor is my brother, and like myself is a free man of color. He is now a resident of the state of Ohio, which state he expects to make his home.

His mother, another brother and myself reside in this city, where we were born, and where I am now in business as keeper of a livery stable He has great desire to visit his aged mother occasionaly, but can not now do so, without risk of prosecution He always bore a good character, and had a reputation as an honest, well behaved, and industrious man, which I am sure he would be unwilling to forfeit by participating in, or abetting any theft I was entirely unacquainted with the nature of the transaction, with which he was charged at the time the indictment was found but I have since become convinced that he is entirely innocent, and that the charge was set on foot and has since been agitated by those, who fbear him personal malice, assisted by the prejudice thin and now existing against free men of color

In view of these facts, and moved by a sense of the great injustice of this undeserved prosecution I make bold to join my prayer with his, for pardon and the interposition of executive clemency in his behalf

Wm L Taylor

Lexington Nov 2d 1865,

William Taylor a free man of color and a substantive and honest citizen, has this morning by his councel asked a line to your Excellency from me in regard to the case of his brother John Taylor. I have Known John Taylor for several years by reputation Until the finding of the Indictment he was regarded and respected as an honest man. I never heard a word to the contrary and was astonished at the charge No man of any color has a better reputation than his brother William The indictment has been filed away for over a year John Taylor is a resident of the state of Ohio The other statements of the Petition are substantially true

W. S Downey Com atty W W Dowden s. f. C

We recommend the release of John Taylor.

L. Gibbons Jno B Norton Clk Wm A Lindsay

I know William L Taylor well. He is an upright and clever citizen & has that reputation and his Brother John H who was indicted had a first rate reputation up to that time -- I have inquired into the case & feel perfectly free to say to you that I am sure the ends of Justice would not suffer by his pardon I freely recommend it & think you would be doing right

Jno B Huston

Fayett ct ct John H Taylor Cold 2d Nov Pardon issued