<title type="main">B. M. Winston to Thomas E. Bramlette Edition created from new transcripts of this manuscript. Initial upload of this work's facsimile images and metadata to FromThePage for editing Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Administrator of the CWGK Migration transcription project on FromThePage Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections made 4 edits between June 21, 2025 and June 21, 2025. Dynamic TEI export from FromThePage (version 22.10)

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 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867 KYR-0001-004-2892 BR17-206 to BR17-207

Henderson, Henderson County, Kentucky Henderson, Henderson County, Kentucky 1865-12-31 Correspondence English Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "3": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
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Henderson Ky Decr 31st 1863 To his excellency Thos E Bramlette Govnr of the State of Ky Sir

understanding that Col Hall of Union County Ky desire to be released through Executive Clemency from further trial for the killing of Dr R. W. N. Taylor in the town of Caseyville Union County Ky in the year of 1857 and for which he has already suffered extraordinary oppression hardships and expense I deem it but Justice to him and all concerned to make the following Statement in his behalf

I was well acquainted with both of these Gentlemen and was the warm personal friend of the Deceased -- I was also acquainted with Halls wife Mrs Josephine Hall -- whom I regarded as a young intelligent and virtuous lady. They finally separated and from common report Suspicion was thrown upon Dr Taylor as being the cause -- and ^in^ consequence of which a Serious difficulty was liable to occur between Taylor and Hall over

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as a friend to the Dr. "and" in fact "of Both" I felt it my duty to interpose and if possible tprevent a difficulty and endeavor to effect a reconciliation.

for this purpose I visited those two gentleman and by this means learned that a difficulty of a very Serious nature -- beyond my power to remove -- really did exist between them and that the rumor as to its cause was but too well founded.

I witnessed a portion of the fight in which Taylor was Slain Hall was quietly attending to Some private business in the Street until menaced by Taylor when the fight Began with pistols and after the exchange of Several Shots without effect -- Hall went around Decd and entered the Store of Mess Brooks and Jennings to whence Taylor after being armed with a Spear or a Sword cane urged on by Some of the crowd -- Soon followed Swearing vengeance against Hall or any that Should oppose him -- he attacked Hall in the house and recd the fatal Stab

from what the Decd Said to me and form his actions at different times previous

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to this affair -- I had good reason to believe he intended to attack or provoke a difficulty with Hall and on this day he made this intention So apparent at different parts of the town that Many were not Surprised at its Occurrance

and while I as the warm peronsal friend of the Deceasd and his family -- deeply regretted its fatal termination -- its but true and Just to Say that in my opinion this affair would not have Occurred had the deceased not Sought and provoked it -- and that the interposition of the executive power to the extent of his final discharge from farther prosecution would be but a Simple act of Justice to Col Hall

I have the honor to be very respectfully your obt Servant B. M. Winston

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Winston