<title type="main">Robert J. Elliott 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-0001-020-1610 MG22-258 to MG22-259

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky 1862-01-14 Petition English Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "3": Changes to page transcript. 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 Ky Jany 14. 1862 To His Excellency Govr B. Magoffin My dear Sir:

I am requested by Mr John Schwab, (who has this day been found guilty on an indictment for unlawfully & maliciously stabbing Herman Hubner & by the verdict his confinement in the penetentiary fixed at one year) to write to you in his behalf, he having had prepared a petition to your Excellency asking you to grant him a pardon

Being a stranger to you I am not aware that anything I might say would be of any service to Schwab -- but still I know your Excellency will give all proper consideration to what I may say. In the first place I would remark that I wrote the petition for Schwab, & the matters therein stated as to the conduct of the trial the ruling of the Court & the copy of Finster's testimony are correctly set forth & I believe all the statements in the petition are true.

I was also the attorney who defended Schwab on the trial of the indictment & was astonished at the verdict rendered against him; I do not, on the honor of a gentleman, believe that he ought to have been found guilty on the indictment, even on the proof Exhibited, and I feel well assured that if Finster's testimony could have been procured, the Jury would not have found Schwab guilty --

Your Excellency may attach the more weight to my opinion, when I say that I believe I have had a fair opportunity of forming a correct opinion in cases of this Kind, having been from April 1855 to April 1861, the attorney for

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the City of Louisville, and in that capacity have been constantly engaged in the Police Court as an Examining Court in prosecuting charges of the foregoing character --

And I may be permitted further to remark that I believe the Cowlth's Atto Mr Craig, who is my law partner, was, for this reason, the more vigorous in the prosecution & was not so indulgent in granting a continuance as in other Cases, for fear he might be regarded as favoring me.

I am but partially acquainted with Mr Schwab, but I believe him to be an honest, truthful man --

I believe he merits the Executive Clemency which he has asked, & hope your Excellency may find it consistent with your views of justice & mercy to pardon him

Very truly Yr obdt servt Robt J. Elliott

The copy of the testimony of Albert Finster before the Examining Court, as set forth in the petition of John Schwab to your Excellency, is a true copy --

It is also true that Mr Elliott asked a postponement of the trial of the indictment on account of absence of sd Finster, who was represented to be a soldier in some one the regiments in Kentucky, but absent from Jefferson County -- which motion was overruled & the trial was gone into.

C S' Craig atto for Comm Kenty

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The undersigned were the Jurors in the case of John Schwab referred to in the foregoing statement of Mr Elliott -- Since rendering our verdict we have seen the copy of the testimony of Albert Finster, before the Examining Court; and if this testimony had been before us on the trial, our verdict would have been different --

In view of the foregoing facts, we respectfully join with the petitioner in his prayer to your Excellency & ask that he be pardoned

Marshall Halbert Andrew Ferguson Nelson Stelbing Wm W. Morris A D Oldham H. Spalding S. Waters P N Frederick R D Anderson Edward S Hikes W H Frederick N. Gwynn

The Jury in the case against Schwab, having, as above shown, asked your Excellency to grant Schwab a pardon, I also join with them in said prayer.

Respectfully E S Craig atto for Comwth 7thDist

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Jefferson Cir. Ct John Schwab Felony 1 yr. Penty Pardon IssdJany 17th 1862