Thomas J. Goodman to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-020-1033.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1033

Document Genre

Petition

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

MG20-111 to MG20-115

Date of Creation

n.d.

Dates Mentioned

1860

1860-11

1861-05

1860-11-26

1860-11-30

1861-03-04

1861-05-28

Thomas J. Goodman to Beriah Magoffin, n.d., Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG20-111 to MG20-115, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-1033, (accessed November 20, 2025).

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To His Excellency Beriah Magoffin, Governor of the state of Kentucky
The petition of T J Goodman, a citizen of Fulton County

Humbly sheweth:

That during the summer of 1860, upon the opening of the Nashville and North Western Rail Road, upon the solicitation of ^a^ number of the citizens of Hickman, he rented a large two story house near the Depot of the said rail road, in the City of Hickman, and thereupon made an application to the Council of the said city, for a License to Keep a Hotel. Apprehensive, that the said business might not succeed, he took out said license for the period of six months only -- After sometime, he found that it was necessary to obtain a license also from the County Court; and under the supposition, that he could get it also for six months, he accordingly handed to the Clerk of the Fulton County Court, the sum of six Dollars, which would have been about the amount necessary for that purpose. Giving no more attention to the matter for sometime, he was not apprised of the fact, that his application had been refused by the County Court, for the ascertained reason, that it had no power to grant such license for any less period, than twelve months. Meanwhile, finding that the said Hotel was losing business to him, he immediately closed the same and forbore carrying on the same. In this condition, the matter remaining, the Grand Jury of the Fulton Equity & Criminal Court at November Term 1860, indicted him for selling intoxicating liquors by less measure than one quart, without a License, being previously obtained therefor, and at May Term 1861. he was duly convicted and under the laws of the state, sentenced to pay a fine of Sixty dollars. which judgment still remains in full force against him.

Your petitioner respectfully representing, that he is a poor man; and that if this judgment is enforced against him, will greatly distress himself and family, humbly begs Your Excellency -- as he was guilty of a violation of the law under a misapprehension of his position and not from any design to offend -- to remit the payment of the said judgment of $60.00 -- upon his paying the necessary fees and costs incurred upon. the same. And as in duty bound, he will ever pray &c.

Thomas J Goodman

To His Excellency, Beriah Magoffin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

We, the undersigned, citizens of the City of Hickman, Kentucky.

Respectfully represent -- ,

That we are all personally acquainted with M^r. Thomas J Godman, the above petitioner, that his statement as contained and set forth in the foregoing petition is true. We further state that M^r Godman is an aged man, in very humble circumstances, but a most respectable and law-abiding man, who has never hitherto been guilty of any violation of the law, to our knowledge. We regard his case, as a very hard one; and which very properly calls for the exercise of the Executive Clemency, particularly at a time like the present. We therefore, humbly request your Excellency to grant him a full remission of said fine &c &c And as in duty bound, we will ever pray &c.

Geo C Hallet
J. H. Davis Judge of the City Court
H. S. Campbell
I D Harlan
Saml Landrum
C. Blanton
G. M. Wilhern City Marshall
R D Holt
C Ledwidge
W Hewn
W. C. Fite
M L M^c[...]

Jno. T. Trent clerk of Fulton county court
E Case Mayor
H F Cheatham
L W M^cDaniel
W R Walker
Sam^l. D. Buck
F [...]
J. Y. Pierpont
Thos L Broford
H, C, Ramage
Jno. C. Bailey
William Cox

Fulton Equity and Criminal Court.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky
against
T J Godman.

The Grand Jury of Fulton County, in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky accuse T J Godman of the offense of keeping a tippling house, Committed as follows viz: said T J Godman on the 26^th day of November 1860 in the county aforesaid did keep a Tippling House, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Thos H Corbett
Commonwealth's Attorney First Judicial District

Information by
John T Trent.
Thad W Thomas.
J L Luttrell.

(Endorsed)
"Bail is fixed upon this Indictment at one hundred dollars"

"J M Bigger"
"Equity & Cr Judge."

"The Commth of Ky
vs } Keeping a Tippling House.
T J Godman

Indictment filed Nov^r. 30^th 1860.

John C Gardner Clk.

and Bench warrant issued March 4^th. 1861.

John C Gardner Clk."

"A true Bill
N^o 104
E W Stephens Foreman"

We of the jury find the defendant guilty as charged in the indictment

May 28. 1861.
Thos E Reed. foreman

A Copy attest
Jno C Gardner clk
[...] L W. M^c[...] D. C.

Josiah Parker

To His Excellency. Beriah Magoffin Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

I John T Trent Clerk of the Fulton county court. do certify that during the latter part of the summer of 1860. Thomas J Godman of the city of Hickman. having opened a tavern or public house of entertainment in the city of Hickman aforesaid and Known as the Nashville & North Western Rail Road Hotel under a license for six months granted by the council of the city of Hickman, requested me to make an application to the Fulton County Court to procure for him a license to Keep an inn or Tavern for six months. and at the same time. left with me the sum of Six dollars for the said license, under the supposition that he could obtain it for said period, upon application being made to the county court, it was ascertained that the court had no power to grant such license for a less period than 12 months, Meanwhile. Mr Godman having gone on under the idea that all was right. went on and Kept a tavern, but before the six months had expired, finding that the business was an unprofitable one, therefore abandoned it, For this, he was indicted by the grand Jury at November Term 1860. and at the late mMay Term of the Fulton Equity & Criminal Court, was duly convicted. and under the laws of the commonwealth Sentenced to pay a fine of Sixty dollars --

I beg to state to your Excellency that I regard this as a case of great hardship and one in which the executive clemency ought very properly to be exercised,

Very Respectfully
Your Excellency.s Obt servt
John T Trent clerk
Fulton County Court

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