<title type="main">James H. Mellon et al. to Unknown 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)

This image and transcription is publicly accessible. The image appears courtesy of the repository named in the Source Description. The transcription and annotation were undertaken by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. If referencing this document title, accession number, and permanent URL.

 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-0001-020-2137 MG24-216 to MG24-217

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.
1

The Commonwealth vs } On an indictment in the Madison Circuit Court for the Murder of Woods Caperton Francis Searcy

The undersigned respectfully petition his excellency the Govenor of Ky to pardon the dft in the above named case under the peculiar & oppressive circumstances attending it. The deceased Caperton at the time of the fatal uncounter drew a large Bowie Knife on the dft Searcy & threatened his life & dft persuaded Caperton to put it up which he did. Caperton drew the knife a second time & was brandishing it at dft being very near to him whereupon the dft for the first time drew a pistol & shot Caperton firing but once.

The dft was arrested & shortly after tried by an examining court in the town of Richmond within less than fifty yards ^of^ where ^the^ affray took place & was acquitted by the examining court. The case was at the next term of the Madison Circuit Court brought before & thoroughly examined by the Grand Jury & that Jury refused to find an indictment The case then laid until the next circuit Court when as is generally believed a

2

Grand Jury was arranged for the purpose of indicting the dft & an indictment was found which is now pending

Your petitioners do not believe that a Grand Jury fairly empaneled could have been found in the county of Madison which would have found an indictment in the case & they state that the proceedings against the dft are oppressive & unfair The Judge who presided at the time the indictment was found & the foreman of the Grand Jury are both relations of the deceased & Harris ^the foreman,^ divers others of the Grand Jury were not selected by the Jury commissioners -- We believe that public Sentiment would sustain your Excellency in pardoning Col Searcy the dft who is a poor man Very far from having the means to defend himself properly

I certify that I was one of the court who permited Col Seary to bail M B Johnson J P Peter F Shalps J P M C presided in the examing court and acquited ^the^ defendent Green Clay J M Hill S M C at the Time Jas H. Mellon Nathaniel Bonny S R Shaw Edmon dunn Wm G Watts A. P. Wilson D C McKinney John. keen Lycur G S tuder Stephen Ross

3

Zenna Cobb Wm Goldin Wm rolland James S Golden Isaac J. Seth Robert keen Josiah Adams John Jones Jr Calborn Freeman Wm Crus Elder Josiah Collins Charles Searcy John C Burgess Thos M Boone Jno W Carrol Noah C Griggs R. Ward Richard Stevens James.H. Richersens John W Pinketon R M Elkin Allen Douglas J C Williams Wm Sparks Ephrem Parson James W Owen B J Douthit Jonas. S. Griggs E Flenty Wm P Dalton Rev. F. T Johns. J. N. Douglas Amanul Fritts James S Putdan G M Webber Wm P Roberts Wm T Moberly H W Right Noah H Tevis William Collins S F Harber John W Green Owen Parish Albert Wagner J J Ford Rice partward one of the first grand Jurors that Refused to find A true bill Austin M Brooksher D. Waller. Chenault one of first grand Jury G, C, burn A. T. Chenault Geo Depruatt

4

Searcys case -- Madison