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Louisville
Gov. Bramlette
Dear Sir
You will percieve by the enclosed copies that Michel Patrick Welch has been inducted, tried and found by the verdict of the Jury guilty of Larceny, and sentenced to the penitentiary for one year.
The jury in their verdict reommend him to your clemency, and if your Excellency had all the proof before you I am certain you would feel that it was a case that authorized the exercise of Excecutive clemency. The jury brought in the verdict with relecutance, and certainly would not have convicted had they not believed that their recommendation would induce your Excellency to grant him a pardon --
I would take down the evidence and have it certified to your Excellency, but with the verdict of the Jury before you, it is hardly deemed necessary to use any other J means to bring your Excellency to the conclusion they came to --
Hoping your Excellency may feel authorized to interpose in behalf of Michael Patrick Welch, & grant him a full pardon --
I remain you Excellencys
humble servant
Tho W Riley
Governor I have defended this man with out fee or reward and have no hope or expectation of either, and am making this appeal to you because on my conscience as a lawyer and a christian man I do not believe he was guilty or Larceny in Law or in fact --
Tho. W. Riley