<title type="main">John Shields 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-0001-020-0237 MG17-202 to MG17-203

Petition English Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "3": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
1

His Excellency, Beriah Magoffin, Govenor of the State of Kentucky:

Your petitioner, John Shields, would respectfully submit his claims to Executive Clemency. On the 28th day of January 1858 W C P Breckinridge Esq missed a box of jewelry from his office. A day or two afterward your petitioner was standing near the Market House in Lexington Kentucky and one John Easmer (whose affidavit is filed as part of this petition) came up to your petitioner and asked him if he had heard anything of a box of jewelry. Your petitioner replied that he had not. Robt Byrns, a witness in this Cause, was standing and had the night previous bought some of this same jewelry from Easmer, said that a little girl had found the box and stated where she lives. Easmer then said that the box and jewelry were his, and if your petitioner would go and get them he (Easmer) would give your pe-

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titioner a part of the same.

Your petitioner went to the house as requested and returned to Easmer and handed him the box in the presence of Robt Byrnes. Easmer then gave your petitioner a gold button for his trouble. This was found to belong to Mr Breckinridge and returned to him. Your petitioner then went to Mr Breckinridge, stated the circumstances under which he had become possessed of the button, returned to Easmer in company with a witness and requested Easmer to go to Mr Breckinridge and give him every thing he had belonging to him.

Afterwarda this same Easmer and Your petitioner were indicted jointly in the Fayette Circuit Court. Your petitioner was tried in February last and sentenced to the Penetentiary for Twelve months. Easmer was afterward tried and cleared. This was in February 1860, and your petitioner has been in the County Jail ever since

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He moved for a new trial which was entertained by the court and then overruled.

He then prayed and appeal which was granted but on examining the papers it was found that the instructions of the Court were lost, and your petitioner is now awaiting its order.

Your petitioner states that he is innocent of the charge against him; has been sorely punished by confinement in the County jail for more than two years; is now quite sick and has been confined to his bed for near two weeks. He earnestly hopes and prays that he may meet with Executive clemency and he be released from damp unhealthy walls which have so long confined him.

Respectfully John Shields

We hope his honour will interpose his clemency in aforesaid case.

L. P. Young W H Lusby Jailor F C Bryan H Allen R Pindell James B Beck

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I wrote to the Governor some months ago -- to which letter I now refer -- recommending a pardon for this Petitioner. I now reiterate that recommendation. I could not sign the above petition, as my recollection differs from that statement of facts.

Wm C P Breckinridge Lexington Dec 17th 1860

We earnestly recommend Petitioner to Executive Clemency

Speed. S. Goodloe G W Davis R W Woolley John B Payne Jr. John T. Thomas H Rees W, C, Fox H C Sims M. L. Keith J W Harcourt M, M, Miller Jno C Young M C Forrhee C S Wossham J. R, Henesey James M. McClelland W H Marriott G W Foster J J Wilson Jno C Hansbro. H. P. Hitchcock J. L. Semler Jno. W. Alexander Benj F Graves J. M. Taylor F. T Erd S. N. Meyer B C, Wood Chas Wheatly

Pardo

Issue pardon & file the other Petn &c with this } B. M.

J W Pate