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Hopkinsville Kentucky
l 10th 1861
His
Excellency B. Magoffin
Governor of Kentucky
Dear Sir
Permit me to Solicit the Executive Clemency on behalf of Jonathan Greer who was convicted of man Slaughter at the present Term of our circuit court
I have been intimately acquainted with Mr Greer for over Thrity five years and he is far advanced in years and one of the most peacable and orderly citizens of our county, I am conversant with all the circumstances which had to this difficulty Mr Greer all the time has acted on the defensive endeavoring peacably to protect his family from insult from some drunken trifling men who but recently settled in his neighborhod,
In a general melee Jonathan Greer and son being first badly wounded, two men who brought about the difficulty, were killed, and had not the friends of those two run off Mr Greers most important witness I am Satisfied the Jury would have
acquitted Mr Greer --
Mr Greer is respectably connected married the daughter of John Hopson one of the most pious men of our Country The Hopson family is very numerous and of high standing --
I speak from a full Knowledge of all the circumstances in Mr Greers case and Permit ^me^ to beg that I have never known a case more deserving of Executive Clemency
your friend &c
D. S. Hays
His
Excellency
B, Magoffin
Frankfort
Kentucky