<title type="main">Henry J. Stites 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-0001-020-0780 MG19-213 to MG19-214

Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky 1861-04-09 Correspondence 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 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.
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To his Excellency Gov. Magoffin

Jonathan Greer of this county was tried and convicted of manslaughter at the present term of our court and sentenced to five years imprisonment in the penitentiary.

I am informed by his lawyers and others in whose statements I have entire confidence that the killing was in defense of his, Greers, son, who was attempting to vindicate the character of his sister who had been slandered by the deceased. The facts are set out in a petition which will be presented to your Excellency and

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which is signed by some of our best citizens who were cognizant of them. It is supposed that, if the facts of the case had been strictly admissible as evidence -- that is all that preceeded and pertained to the affair which resulted in the homicide, the verdict of the jury would have been an instant acquitted; and I am inclined to think that such would have been the result without any doubt. But many, indeed the most important circumstances attending it, were ruled out as inadmissible, and hence the convictions.

I have known Mr Greer since my childhood. He has always borne a good character.

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Has demeaned himself as a quiet law abiding and peacable citizens He is allied by marriage to one of the most numerous and respectable families of our county, and much solicitude is felt in behalf of his family. He has a wife and large family of children all dependent upon him for support. And from what I have heard, it was his desire to protect and guard the character of his daughters and the life of his son, that superinduced the difficulty which has resulted so unfortunately for him.

I feel confident that his case is one that merits the favorable consideration of your Excellency, and have no doubt whatever

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that your interposition in his behalf would give satisfaction to his neighbors and our citizens generally.

Very truly & Respflly Yr friend Henry J. Stites Hopkinsville Ky. April 9 1861