<title type="main">Joseph E. Hays et al. 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)

This image and transcription is publicly accessible. The image appears courtesy of the repository named in the Source Description. The transcription and annotation were undertaken by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. If referencing this document title, accession number, and permanent URL.

 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-0001-004-3066 BR43-189 to BR43-190

Petition 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 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. 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.
1

To his Excellency Govr. Thomas E Bramlette,

Your petitioner E. B. Chapman of Russell Couny States that about the day of in the edge of Adair County at the old store of James Miller now decd. the store house of Cyrus Wheat was broken forcibly & in the night & goods taken there from. Afterwards part of the goods were found in the possession of said negroes & a part at the house of your petitioners mothers with whom his brother John Chapman resided The morning before the house was so broken on Thomas Wood late of Clinton County Cald Capt. Wood was at said Mrs Chapmans & said John was in the service in Woods company The petitioner does not nor has he for many years lived about his fathers or mothers house. He was a little unfortunate in his raising his father having been convicted to the penitentiary in Tennessee whether right or wrong he does not know but that & other family matters have been in his way for years. The said negroes being teased to tell on somebody finally accused as it is said Your petitioner & one Butler who lived nearby & both were arrested & brought to trial. Butler was able to overwhelming & undoubted testimony was 15 miles away & not in the neighborhood at the time. So he was dismissed the pltfs family or his children all being too young to testify he could not prove an Alibi except by a small neighbor boy until 10 or 11 oclock & it was not known what hour the store was broken. The proof against

2

In petitioners house finding the spool that this thread or there before, by it. A window of the with a broken broken in that way petitioner was found & taken from concealed place, in the search for the goods was applied to the chisel chops aforesaid window & Mr. Wheat was of opinion that corresponded with the chops. Petitioner proved by Henry Coffey not of Kin & was unattached that he Coffey broke that chisel ^in using it^ after the store was robbed & broken. There was hower & Justly so great excitement up against & on account of the crime & the others accused having fled or at least not being taken. petitioner alone on this state of proof has been sent to further trial He will be 43 years old the 3rd day of October next & has never before be accused of a crime. He lives in his natal spot & from great poverty he has toiled his way to a good little farm & stock enough to make his family of little children 4 in number comfortable with his own labor. His neighbors & Mr. Wheat also if called on will state that he has always been a man of incessant labour & that his litle property has been made in that way. In the county of Adair & before the Judge there the slighest proof is thought to be dangerous To move the case & carry witnesses & employ lawyers will almost sweep his means. He has always been a good citizen without regard to example or influences & he hopes your honor will

3

pardon him & send the pardon to George Bryan Jamestown Ky We also hope your excellency will pardon Mr. Chapman for the reasons stated by him We know nothing of the proof in the case*

The proof in the case was insubstance as stated above

Joseph E. Hays

*Petitioner omitted to state that Wood was seen crossing the Cumberland with some of the goods & he is now in Tennessee

J B Johnson Achilles Nelson J.A. Rousseau L H Rousse John H Butler Terrell Rowe George Bryan Jas L. Willoughby G T Isbell John Crisp S P Collins G W. Twidwell F. B. McCluill Joel coffey John B coffey Amberse Cundif 'A G' jolstion A. C. Wells Aylett Buckner G W W P Payne Isaac. M. Wells J. H Bledsoe Samuel Jeffries Wm M Northrup Jesseless Laless F. S. Carter Stanton Kelsay F P. Wolford Reuben S Pierce Benjamin Holt John Holt

4

Russell