Edward P. Campbell to Thomas E. Bramlette

KYR-0001-004-1842.xml

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Citation
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Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-1842

Document Genre

Correspondence

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

BR13-404 to BR13-407

Place of Creation

Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

18 May 1865

Dates Mentioned

1865-05-18

1863-11

1864-01

1864-02

1864-02-23

1864-05

1864-11

1864-05-03

1865-05-20

Edward P. Campbell to Thomas E. Bramlette, 18 May 1865, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, BR13-404 to BR13-407, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-1842, (accessed November 4, 2025).

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< (N^o 1) >
Hopkinsville Kentucky May 18^th 1865
To his excellency
Gov Thomas.. E.. Bramlette
Frankfort Ky
Dr Sir

At the November Term 1863 of the Muhlenberg Circuit Court the Grand Jury returned 5 Indictments against James W Sullivan chargeing him with the crime of Forgery Bail was required in the sum of $1000x in each case.. to answer said indictments and in January Or February 1864 James.. W.. Sullivan was arrested in Louisville and was delivered Over to the Sheriff of Breckinridge County and by him delivered to the Jailor of Muhlenberg County and confined in Jail and on the 23^rd February 1864 sued out a writ of habeas corpus and offered his father Raughley Sullivan as his bail and his father was accepted as his bail in each bond 5 in all,, each bond for $1000x James.. W.. Sullivan ran off and as I am informed is now in Calafornia Or in Canada,, he failed to appear and his bail bonds were declared forfeited at May Term 1864 of said court,, Summons issued against his bail and at the November Term 1864 of said court,, five seperate judgments were rendered against Raughley Sullivan his bail for $1000x in each case amounting to sum of $5000x in all,, Executions have been issued on said Judgments and have
< (N^o 2) >
been returned by sheriff of Muhlenberg County,, No Property found out of which to make said executions and and this occurs from this reason,, Raughley Sullivan stated under oath at the time he was accepted as bail for his son that he was worth in property over and above all debts and liabilities of $5000x and I presume at the time from all the information I have that he was not embarassed or in debt and was worth about $10,000x but a part of his Estate consisted of 8 or 10 negroes and they are now worthless and on the 3^rd day of May 1864 Raughley Sullivan in order to prevent the collection of these Judgments against him when rendered and in order to defraud the Commonwealth and avoid his liability on said bonds as bail as I am informed from rumor and as I believe sold and conveyed all his landed Estate to John,, S,, Eaves Jr for $5000x and executed Deed to said Eaves for the same and also sold off all his personal Estate and rendered himself insolvent and worthless,, divers of persons believe the Deed to Eaves fraudulent,, but I have used proper exertion to find out and I am by no means certain that I can establish the fraud by proof,, my Opinion is Sullivan has converted all he had into money,, and his money is beyond the limits of the state where I can not find out,,

Raughley Sullivan is an Old Man about 65 years of age and his neighbors and acquaintances say he has ever borne the reputation of an honest sober industrious good citizen and in fact had as good a character
< (No 3) >
as any man in Muhlenberg County,, and all he had -- he had made by honest industry and hard licks,, But his son James,, W,, Sullivan is no doubt an infamous and splendid scoundrel and ought to be in the Penetentiary and if he had remained to be tried he would have been found Guilty as I believe in each and all of said indictments Raughley Sullivan has 2 small children On his hands one a son in bad health the other a little daughter and his wife is dead and he informs me that he is anxious to educate his little daughter,, he says if he pays said Judgments to the Commonwealth for $5000x it will take all the means he has and leave him and his 2 children destitute and pennyless,, He informs me that he is willing and anxious to pay to the Commonwealth $500x and the Commonwealth attys fees in said cases amounting to sum of $1,500x and Sheriffs and clerks fees if you will release him of the balance of said Judgments amounting to sum of $3000 -- and I believe he will do all he promises,, and if he will do this I believe it will be better than an Everlasting Law Suit,, with him to set aside fraudulent deed and by Bills of Discovery to get at his means,, I am opposed to his dictating Terms,, but the question is can we do better than submit under all the circumstances,, I am interested in this matter to the extent of $1,500x and have a wife and children to provide for,, though I am neither a Begger or a Pauper and have been robbed and harassed by this infernal Rebellion and the accursed Rebels and Guerrillas until
< (No 4) >
that amount of money $1,500x would keep me considerably,, I have endeavored to state the facts and would not make mistatement willfully and Knowingly for the whole amount and Ten times the amount x and if you should deem it improper to remit and release Raughley Sullivan of the $3000x I will go into him and worry him all I can and beat him if I can and make him pay the whole amount if possible But if you will remit $3000x he will pay the balance immediately,, this course I am certain would subserve my interest best and in my opinion would proove best for the interest of the Commonwealth also,, I refer you to Senator B,, H,, Bristow as Knowing me well,, and he knows something of the facts and statements made in this [letter],, and as to manner in which I have discharged all duties required of me as atty for the Commonwealth in 2^nd Judicial District }

I am Respectfully
E P,, Campbell
atty for Comth

P,, S,,

If you should remit and release Raughley Sullivan of $3000x due on said Judgments for $5000x please forward the Remit to me at Hopkinsville Kentucky and much oblige }

Yours truly
E P,, Campbell

I have knowledge of most of the facts stated within by the Commonwealths attorney. Nothing can be made out of Sullivan by execution, and I believe nothing would be gained by a Bill of discovery. for I have reason to believe Sullivan would place himself beyond the jurisdiction of the Court. I have no interest whatever in the matter. but Mr Campbell who is ever remarkably vigilent in the discharge of his duties consulted me. and I urged him to save the $2000 -- if possible. I have not a doubt that it would be best for the state as well as for him

H. G. Petree

Muhlenburg Cir Ct
vs
Raughley Sullivan
3 Judgts $1000 each

Remit as requested by Comths atty & Judge & send to Comths Atty
20^th May 1865

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