<title type="main">John M. Harlan 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-0001-020-1032 MG20-109 to MG20-110

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky 1861-05-08 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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Louisville May 8/61 Dear Sir:

I take the liberty of addressing you in regard to a matter in which all of our family feel a very deep interest.

Mrs Caldwell of Columbus Ky a neice of my father's is now in Frankfort for the purpose of effecting if possible, the pardon of her son John William Caldwell charged with the homicide of one Woods. -- of course I have no knowledge of the circumstances attending to this unfortunate affair farther than I have learned from others. But my information from entirely reliable sources induces me to believe that there is not the slightest ground to Suppose that young Caldwell pre-

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meditated the killing of Woods. They were friendly, got into quarrel, no doubt unexpectedly, with each other, Woods got possession of Caldwell's cane, and not till then did Caldwell shoot -- Caldwell no doubt, in the excitement of the moment, believed that he was in great danger, & hence he shot at Woods & unfortunately killed him --

I know Caldwell well. Naturally there is no cleverer young man -- when he was quite young having no father no control him he fell in with evil associates, and contracted some bad habits -- But he has entirely reformed and now desires to return to his native State, and lead an entirely

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different life. He has been a wanderer for 18 months, being compelled to remain away from his widowed mother, who in her old age, looks alone to him for protection. I think you would do a good act if you would restore him to his mother, who seems almost broken hearted in her present condition. I doubt not if you would inquire of Mr Lannom, he could give you all the facts.

Your favorable action in this matter would never be forgotten by any member of our family -- We will never cease to thank you. if

With great respect Yr obt servt John M Harlan

To Hon B. Magoffin

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Hickman Eq. & Crim. Ct Jno. Wm Caldwell Indictment for Homicide Pardon IssdSept 16. 1861

Petition Wm Caldwell