<title type="main">John Couch et al. to Beriah Magoffin 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 22, 2025 and June 22, 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, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862 KYR-0001-020-0102 MG17-1 to MG17-2

Graves County, Kentucky Graves County, Kentucky 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 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.
1

To his Excelllency Beriah Magoffin Governor of the State of Kentucky.

Your petitioner would most respectfully State, that at the May Term of the Graves Circuit Court, a fine of Forty dollars and the costs of the prosecution was imposed on Wilkerson Carter on an Indictment for a breach of the peace. now many of us were present and heard the evidence deposed depon the trial. There was but a Single witness introduced who swore that no blows passed, & that he saw nothing except a struggle between Said Carter & his adversary, for the possession of a Pistol. -- that Carter had hold of the Muzzle & his opponent the Breech of said pistol. this was all the evidence.

We thought at the time & Still think the fine ($40) was not only onerous but very unjust & wholly unauthorized, Mr Carter is a young man just married, & possessed of very limited means, & the collection of said fine would operate very prejudicially to his future pospects in life, no & would in our opinion crush and utterly prostrate him & his little family.

Believing this would be the almost inevitable result -- of enforcement, we ask your excellency to interpose in his behalf.. and extend to him that executive clemancy, (needed so much by his condition in life & the circumstances surrounding him.) & pray that the fine so far as it is subject to your control be remitted

John. Couch R, Rowland C. H. Green G M Elliott B. F. Williams S Riley Jas. gardner C. J. Whittemore David. Orr A J Fields T F Purgurson

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R T Waller S A Walker Hugh Hamlett W. M Galloway J, A, Mcnutt J. R, Riley G F Conner M M Conner J H Wilford F G Sasseen Samuel Yandell M M,, Riley Thos, J, Jones S A Hays James o cochran W,, F,, Hameten Capt. W, C, Conley Given Gamblin J M Freeman Wm Breckenridge A. J. Jenkins J. M. Wiford Wm, Calkran T H. Mayers H B Rodgers A J Dill J R Cochran W, S, Clark V Rodgers H M Snow Robert T Beasley M. W. Galloway J. T. Galloway B Eatrer J. C. Cochran J. M. Emerson William Melvin B West Jr Caleb, Reed James. M. Coulter J M Stewart Chas McDonald O H Perry R,, A,, Lewis J, F, Parkhill B. G. Tilley A J Hamblett S D Johnson J A hamilton Samuel Orr W, P. Arnett Edward M. Fleming James Vaughan A. H. Davis Wiley Morris T M Kinsy John A Cannon Isaac D Patterson A,, Albriton Branttel Hereneclet J. N ^his X mark^ Carzine J. G Pea

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Isack Coopland Wm Bradly R J, Talbot T. J. Puryear L B Holifield P Reynolds A J Pryor A, F, Wright

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Graves Cir. Ct $40 } breach of the Peace W, Carter Respt 12. mos IssdNov 1. 1861

Respite 12 Mo B. M.