<title type="main">Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Esam Bowling, Hugh Bowling, & Isham Bowling, Indictment 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 2 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, Apprehension of Fugitives from Justice Papers, 1863-1867 KYR-0001-005-0154 BR7-367

Laurel County, Kentucky Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) N00007307 Categories: People

Along with Hugh and Isham Bowling, Elam Bowling was accused of murdering Arnold Kirby in Laurel County on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) N00007308 Categories: People

Along with Elam and Isham Bowling, Hugh Bowling was accused of murdering Arnold Kirby in Laurel County on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Social: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) N00007309 Categories: People

Along with Hugh and Elam Bowling, Isham Bowling was accused of murdering Arnold Kirby in Laurel County on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Social: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Social: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) N00007310 1817? 1860-01-06 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer. North Carolina native. Farmer in Laurel County in 1850.

Relationships Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer)

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, not stated, p. unknown. John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) N00007312 1820-06-23 1894-05-03 Categories: People

Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney. Virginia native. Son of William Dishman and [Unknown] Branau Dishman. Married to Jane T. Atchison Dishman. Father of Mary Lou Dishman, Eliza E. Dishman, James Dishman, Laura Dishman, Silas Benjamin Dishman, Carrie Dishman, and Maggie Dishman. Attorney in Jessamine County, Kentucky, in 1850. Owned seven enslaved persons in Jessamine County in 1850. Resident of Knox County, Kentucky, in 1852. Attorney in Knox County in 1860. Owned two enslaved persons in Knox County in 1860. Commonwealth's attorney for the 12th Judicial District of Kentucky in 1861.

Relationships Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court Political: Beriah Magoffin (Governor of Kentucky 1859-1862) Political: Clay Circuit Court Political: Gabriel Winter Price, Sr. (Clay County, Kentucky, court clerk.) Political: Granville Pearl (London, Kentucky, attorney and judge) Political: James Stone Chrisman (Wayne Co, KY, Prov gov council member, Rep (CSA), attorney) Legal: Knox Circuit Court

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Jessamine County, District 2, p. 73B. Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Jessamine County, District 2. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Knox County, Barbourville, p. 26. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Knox County, Barbourville. Ninth Manuscript Census of the United States (1870), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Knox County, Subdivision 93, p. 427B. "Death of a Well Known Lawyer," The Evening Bulletin (Maysville, KY), May 4, 1894, p. 1. Charles Kerr, William Elsley Connelley, and E.M. Coulter, History of Kentucky (Chicago: The American Historical Society, 1922), p. 423. "John Dishman (1820-1894)," Find A Grave, Memorial 15309240, accessed January 5, 2023, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15309240. P. L. Johnson (Laurel County, Kentucky, resident) N00007313 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Hue Cordell (Laurel County, Kentucky, resident) N00007314 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Martin Asher (Laurel County resident) N00007316 1837-11-19 1886-05-02 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Find A Grave, "Martin Asher (November 19, 1837-May 2, 1886)," Memorial #10281195, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10281195/martin-asher (accessed June 18, 2017). KYR-0001-005-0154. Stephen Langley (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) N00007318 1814? Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer. North Carolina native. Farmer in Laurel County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, not stated, p. 405. Jefferson Johnson (Laurel County resident) N00007319 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Alfred Girtman (Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer) N00007320 1842? 1886? Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer. Tennessee native. Farm laborer in Laurel County in 1860. Private in the 7th Kentucky Infantry (U.S.A.) during the Civil War.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, Not Stated, p. 109. Find A Grave, "Alfred Girtman (c1842-c1886)," Memorial #21428630, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21428630 (accessed June 18, 2017). Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, vol. 1, 1861-1866 (Frankfort: Kentucky Yeoman Office, 1866), 572. James H. Evans (Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer) N00007322 1843? Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer. Kentucky native. Farm laborer in Laurel County in 1860. Private in the 40th Kentucky Mounted Infantry (U.S.A.) during the Civil War.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, Not Stated, p. 5. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky, vol. 1, 1861-1866 (Frankfort: Kentucky Yeoman Office, 1866), 433. L. B. Nichlesan (Laurel County resident) N00007323 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. James Weaver (Laurel County resident) N00007324 1840? Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Kentucky native. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, not stated, p. unknown. KYR-0001-005-0154. James Hodge (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) N00007325 1829? Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer. Tennessee native. Farmer in Laurel County in 1863.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865), NARA RG 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records), Laurel County, KY, June and July 1863, p. 169, (Accessed via ancestry.com). Evan Jones (Laurel County resident) N00007326 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, resident. Witness to the murder of Arnold Kirby on January 6, 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

KYR-0001-005-0154. Robert Asher (Laurel County resident) N00007317 1840-04-22 1907-05-18 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer. Kentucky native. Farmer in Laurel County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, Not Stated, p. 38. Find A Grave, "Robert Asher (APril 22, 1840-May 18, 1907)," Memorial #7679140, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7679140/robert-asher (accessed June 18, 2017). David Weaver (Laurel County resident) N00007327 1838? Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer. Kentucky native. Farm laborer in Laurel County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Arnold Kirby (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Isham Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Hugh Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Elam Bowling (Laurel County accused murderer) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, Not Stated, p. 108. John A. Pitman (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer and circuit clerk) N00007328 1840-09-13 1868-08-10 Categories: People

Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer and circuit clerk. Kentucky native. Farmer in Laurel County in 1860. Presiding clerk of the Laurel Circuit Court in Laurel County c1860.

Relationships Legal: David Weaver (Laurel County resident) Legal: Evan Jones (Laurel County resident) Legal: James Hodge (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: James Weaver (Laurel County resident) Legal: L. B. Nichlesan (Laurel County resident) Legal: James H. Evans (Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer) Legal: Alfred Girtman (Laurel County, Kentucky, farm laborer) Legal: Jefferson Johnson (Laurel County resident) Legal: Stephen Langley (Laurel County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: Robert Asher (Laurel County resident) Legal: Martin Asher (Laurel County resident) Legal: Hue Cordell (Laurel County, Kentucky, resident) Legal: P. L. Johnson (Laurel County, Kentucky, resident) Legal: John Dishman (Knox County, Kentucky, attorney and commonwealth's attorney.) Legal: Laurel Circuit Court

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Laurel, Not Stated, p. 71. Find A Grave, "John A. Pitman (September 13, 1840-August 10, 1868)," Memorial #7704314, https://www.findagrave.com//memorial/7704314/john-pitman (accessed June 18, 2017). Laurel County, Kentucky P00006209 Categories: Places

County in southeastern Kentucky. Seat at London.

37.129, -84.0833 Robert M. Rennick, Kentucky Place Names (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1984), 167. “London, Kentucky," USGS: Earth Explorer, accessed June 14, 2021, https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/. Laurel Circuit Court O00000415 Categories: Organizations

Located in the 12th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Judge(s): Granville Pearl. Commonwealth’s Attorney(s): John Dishman and Hugh F. Finley. Clerk(s): C. B. Farris and R. L. Ewell.

Relationships Legal: Hugh F. Finley (Whitley County, Kentucky, attorney) Legal: Granville Pearl (London, Kentucky, attorney and judge) Legal: John Storm (accused murderer) Legal: Jesse Johnson (private, 14th Kentucky Cavalry (U. S. A.)) Legal: Aron Hash (accused murderer)

“Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1861,” in 1862 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1862), 303-308; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1862,” in 1863 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 24. (Frankfort, Ky.: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1863), 298-306; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1863,” in 1864 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 10. (Frankfort, Ky.: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1864), 301-306; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1864,” in 1865 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1865), 9-12; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865,” in 1865/66 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 9-12; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1866,” in 1866 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1866), 347-350. Commonwealth of Kentucky O001025 1792 Categories: Organizations

Administrative body of the state of Kentucky. Capital at Frankfort, Kentucky. Governor(s): Beriah Magoffin (1859-1862), James F. Robinson (1862-1863), and Thomas E. Bramlette (1863-1867).

Paul Blanchard, "Office of Governor" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 380. Malcolm E. Jewell, "General Assembly" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 366. Paul J. Weber, "Court System" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 233. Laurel County, Kentucky Legal/Financial English Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 2 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
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Laurel, circuit, Court The Commonwealth of Kentucky against } Indict

Esam Bowling Hugh Bowling & Isham Bowling

The Grand Jury of Laurel county in the name and by the authority of the commonwealth of Ky accuses Esam Bowling Hughe. Bowling and Isham Bowling of the crime of Murder committed as follows to wit the said Esam Bowling Hughe Bowling & Isham Bowling on the 6th of January 1860 in the county aforesaid did unlawfully and with Malice afore thought kill and murder Arnold Kirby by stabbing him with a knife or some other Sharp Instrument against the peace and dignity of the commonwealth of Kentucky

John Dishman Comlth Atty

Witnesses P L Johnson Hue Cordell Martin Asher Stephin Langly Jefferson Johnson Alfred Girtman James Evans L B Nichleson James Weaver James Hodge Even Janes Robt Asher David Weaver

A copy Att John Pitmanclk