<title type="main">Alexander Wesson 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 3 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-0001-020-2237 MG24-374 to MG24-375

Correspondence English Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. 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 the Governor of Kentucky

The undersigned citizens of Calloway County respectfully Say to your Excellency that Some time ago John Braswell was indicted in the Calloway Criminal Court for an assault and battery committed by him on the person of Henry Weson, and was recognized with G S and James Coleman and P S. Hamlin his Securities to appear and answer said charge, That he (Braswell) left the country, failed to appear, and the recognizance was taken as forfeited, and at the present (March) term Judgement has been rendered against his securities for $300 the amount of said recognizance

Now we are informed that a petition has been or will be sent to your Excellency asking a remission of said Judgement against this we do protest and earnestly remonstrate -- 1st Because the said case of the Commonwealth against said Braswell has been tried at the present term of the Court and a verdict and Judgement rendered that he (Braswell) should pay a fine of $300 and be imprisoned five months this shows that in the opinion of the Jury the case was a verry ag=

2

gravated one, which is the fact

2nd Because the proof showed that two boys (said Henry Weson being one of them) were engaged in a fight which had been brought about by and urged on by said Braswell and that whilst they were so engaged Braswell ran up and without a word, struck Wesson with a large loaded hickory stick on the head cutting a gash from two to three inches long and about the fourth of an inch across, that said Wesson would from the effects of said Wesson would from the effect of said wound have fallen had he not been caught, that said wound was dangerous that said stick was a very dangerous weapon, that Braswell continued to beat Weson with the same until he was taken off by person present. That there was no reasonable excuse for this outrage that it was made clear by the evidence that had he been indicted for malicious striking he must have been convicted.

/3rd His said securities ought not to be released from any part of said Judgement because they were informed of the extent of the outrage and went his bail with their eyes open, they have

3
4

now been informed And 4th A powerful reason against executive clemency in cases like this is that it exerts ^has^ a most destructive influence on society and indirectly if not directly encourages the commission of crime and breach of the penal laws -- 5th When men become Security for ^the appearance of^ other charged with commission of crime thatey should be made to know that they must pay the penalty if the bond be forfeited otherwise the people cannot and will not respect the law but must and will loose all confidense in it as a shield to protect them against crime and outrage --

Alexander Wesson