John G. Merritt to James F. Robinson or Thomas E. Bramlette

KYR-0001-004-0007.xml

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Citation
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Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-0007

Document Genre

Petition

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867

Item Location

BR8-9 to BR8-10

Place of Creation

Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

1 September 1863

Dates Mentioned

1863-09-01

1863-09-12

John G. Merritt to James F. Robinson or Thomas E. Bramlette, 1 September 1863, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, BR8-9 to BR8-10, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-0007, (accessed November 4, 2025).

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Hopkinsville, Ky.,
Sept 1^st 1863 --
To His Excellency James F. Robinson Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or his successor, the Hon. Thos E. Bramlette --

Your petitioner John G. Merritt, respectfully showeth to your Excellency, that at the March term of the . two several fines were assessed upon your petitioner by said Court upon verdicts rendered Christian Circuit Court 1863oin the trial of two indictments the one for carrying concealed weapons, & the other for disturbing religious worship, the fine in the first case being twenty dollars, and in the second case being fifty dollars. Your petitioner further showeth to your Excellency that, at the time of the trial of said indictments, he was sick and confined to his bed, being afflicted with hemorahage of the lungs, and for that reason could not attend the said trials -- that, if he had been able to attend said trials, he could have made it appear that he was not gulity as charged in the indictment for disturbing religious worship, but that he (at the time said offence was alleged to have been committed) ^was^ at the church as a peaceable citizen, disturbing no one, but was himself disturbed and insulted by others, and that, if ~~[...]~~there was any disturbance at the time it was not casued by him; but by others. Your petitioner is in the habit of attending the public worship of God, and is fully appreciates the necessity of enforcing the laws
of the Commonwealth wh~~ich~~ose ~~[...]~~objects ~~[...]~~are to secure the freedom of religion and religious worship -- Certainly your petitioner's reverence for God and for religion ~~[...]~~and respect for his house and his people, would restrain from such offences -- Your petitioner further showeth to your Excellency that long before the trials aforesaid (say for three years) he has been and is now afflicted with disease of the lungs which has assumed the form of Consumption, and that his affliction is so great that he is now and has been for a long time unable to work for a support, but depends for a living upon the charity of his father. Your petitioner has no property and is wholly unable to pay the said fines --

For the reasons aforesaid your petitioner would respectfully pray your Excellency to remit to and pardon him of so much of said fines as by the law belong to the Commonwealth, and Your petitioner will ever pray &c.

J G Merritt

The undersigned would respectfully recommend the above petitioner to executive clemency & state that the facts in the petition are true, and request your Excellency to grant the prayer of the said peition, for the reasons set forth
therein. This September 1^st 1863.

J. B. Boyd (Juryman)
G G Witty
W. T Witty
Jas B Witty Juryman
J A Witty
D F Witty
W W Boyd Juryman
Wm. Linnville
J A youngs
J moris
G. W Witty
George Golay
R A Morris
~~G D Mor~~
J D Morris
R. Knight
J S Renolds
James Roberts
John Ryan
A. Armstrong
R. Golay
S n Boyd
James Hollins
John Linville
J Wagoner
H J Morris
G kinight
J T T. Fuller
R S Fuller
G. W. S. Wood

Christian Cir Court
Judgt
J. G. Merritt
Rejected & ans^d 12^th Sept 1863

Christian Cr Ct.
vs
J. G. Merritt
Rejected 12^th Sept/63

Jno G Merrit
Pet for remission fine
$50 and $20. for carrying concealed weapons & distbg R. worship
Sept 12^th 1863
Refused
Tho E Bramlette

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