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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-0001-020-1886 MG23-301 to MG23-302

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

To his Excellency the Governor of Kentucky

the undersigned citizens of Meade County Ky, (many of whom were present and heard the trial at thise April Term of the circuit court holden for the aforesaid county in 1862,) of the Commonwealth against Jacob Sciffen for Shooting at William Reesor with intent to kill & who was convicted to six months imprisonment & a fine of fifty Dollars, would respectfully represent that the only testimony against Said Sciffen adduced upon the trial on behalf of the Commonwealth was made by the immediate family of said Reesor -- himself being one of the Chief witnesses & according to the Showing of Said Reesor & family at least two Shots were taken by Said Reesor at Sciffen while Sciffen fired but one at Reesor They farther state that in view of the general character of said Reesor & all the other circumstances connected with the charges on which Said Sciffen was convicted & in view of Sciffen's family condition & circumstances & that of his family the undersigned think this a proper case for the interposition of Executive Clemency & therefore most respectfully ask that he be pardoned

We have arranged headings to our names that it may be seen who of us heard the trial & the facility we had for knowing the facts & circumstances of the case of Said Sciffen Your Excellecy will be observe Some of us sit as jurors in the case & some others were spectators & witnesses of the ^trial^

2

while others of us know the facts herein recited from having been present at the examing trial or on the Grand jury who found the indictment, or from ta^l^king with the jury witnesses & other respectable parties to whom the facts of the case were well known

Present at the trial as spectators & hearing the trial

J S Taylor Jas R Payne R R Jones Gov J C Powell Wm Ditto Collins Fitch John heard only part of the testimony think he ought to be pardoned P C Richardson Thompson Kendall O. C. Richardson Jr A. Shwabenton John Shurman Jno. R Taylor Dr J. W. Fletcher E M Johnson Absalom Shacklett John H Payne D. S. Roberts B. Mills James H Carrier E A Shacklett S B Williams C C Fairleigh Of the Jury who Sit in the case Wm Basket J M Ashcraft James Hardisty Wm G Beall Basiel Arnld Thomas A Brown Chas S. Clary W. B. Sirnndris J, W, Thompson William Chism R. P. Meritt Irven Allen Ben Elder E D Rhodes J M Chism B F Singleton

3

H. C. Adams Richard Ashcraft W R McGinnis Wm Beslow A Chism W A. brown J H Board E Wrump S Foushee Wm Kendall J P M C Geo. T. Buckman James H McGinnis Meade Cir. Ct

4

Remitted & Issue pardon B. M.

$500 6 mo Impst. } Mis Jacob Sciffen Iss May 13. 1862