His excellency Beriah McGoffin Executive of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Your petitioner would state for the reasons herein after named that your petitioner would ask your Executive clemency 1st a warrant was issued in the name of the Commonwealth against your petitioner John J. Dursley for Breach of the peace committed by striking one Gran Smith Ththe facts are that said smith cursed abused and Badly treated your petitioner at meeting at a school house in Trigg County Ky on Sunday or Monday said smith came to the school house where your petitioner was as a schollar attending to his duties as such and being a boy of in his 18th year your petitioner being provoked did strike said Smith, he being told by persons presant that he had a rite so to do -- on the trial your petitioner offerd to the insults on Sunday previous which the Magistrate Refuse to go to the Jury affidavits of same whome are here in enclosed your Petitioner being a Boy of tender years poor and the son of a widowed woman the fine assesed being $23 dollars and 5 days confinement in the county Jail is extravagant oppressive and wrong we whose names are here unto subscribed I do concur and freely ask Executive Clemency