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To His Excellency Beriah Magoffin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Your Petitioners Citizens of McLean County would most humbly represent unto your Excellency that Stephen Duval was found guilty by a Jury & Sentenced to be hung at the last Term of the McLean Circuit Court They would state that from the proof in the cause they are well coonvinced that he was either forced or in some way drawn into the Commission of the crime by others; that he is a person of very weak mind a great Coward & drunkerd They believe that he ought to be punished but would humbly represent that the ends of Justice would be amply satisfied by his confinement in the penitentiary for a Term of years. He is willing & anxious to serve in the penitentiary for a Term of years could he not therefore be pardoned upon condition of his so serving Would your Excellency interpose in some way so as to lighten the penalty which will otherewise be inflicted by the Cause on the unfortunate man & your Petitioners will every pray &c
Alf C Turner clk
MLean Circt Court
Thomas Shackelford D S
H Lewis S M C
The undersigned Jailer of McLean County in addition to the statements in the foregoing Petition which he fully endorses & joins in the prayer of the Petition th 1860
Elijah M Mosely of n c