George W. Johnston to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-020-0433.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-0433

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG18-174

Place of Creation

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

11 January 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-01-11

1861-01-14

George W. Johnston to Beriah Magoffin, 11 January 1861, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG18-174, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-0433, (accessed April 19, 2025).

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Louisville Jany 11^th 1861.
Hon. B. Magoffin
D^r Sir.

At the last Term of the Criminal Court for Jefferson County Charles Hawkins was tried & convicted & Sentenced to two years confinement in the Penatentiary for Malicious stabbing of Thomas Murray. The conviction of Hawkins was on the Testimony of Murray; W^m Brown & Jno Koenig. I have learned that Murray & Brown have made an affidavit which with a Petition from the Widowed mother of Hawkins for his Pardon will be laid before you; I know the man Koenig he has bean twice before me on the charge of Pettit Larceny once before he Testified in the case against Hawkins & once since & on both occasions his guilt was clearly Established his Statement is entitled to no credit & had his character been Known to the Jury I am certain they would have given no credit to his statements

From facts which have transpired since the Trial of Hawkins I beleive he should be Pardoned he is poor, his mother a widow & without means they were unable to make such a defense as under other circumstances might have been made. I
Have not seen the affidavit made by Murray & Brown but understand they make statements now varrying Materially the Evidence given by them to the Jury & which if made then would have Insured his acquittal. hoping you may be satisfied that the young ^man^ has been unfairly dealt by on the part of the Witnesses in giveing their testimony & that he is entitled to a discharge

I remain D^r Sir
Your Friend
Geo. W. Johnston.

To His Excellency Gov Magoffin

In consideration of the Youth of Hawkins and the anxiety of his friends, and a retraction to some extent of the statements of some of the witnesses in the case I Join in his petition

E S Craig Atto for Comth 7^th Ju Dis

Jany 14^th 1861,

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