John W. Christin to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-020-1064.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1064

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

MG20-159 to MG20-160

Place of Creation

Adair County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

28 May 1861

Dates Mentioned

1861-05-28

1861-05

1861-06-24

John W. Christin to Beriah Magoffin, 28 May 1861, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG20-159 to MG20-160, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-1064, (accessed November 4, 2025).

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May 28^th 1861
To His Excellency
Beriah MaGoffin
Governor of Kentucky
Sir

At the May term 1861 (just past) I was fined ~~fifty~~ Sixty dollars "for Keeping a tipling house"

I was not guilty, but did not make my defence because Mr. William Stewart ^an atty & counsillor at law^ advised me that it was not necessary for me to attend Court. The names of two persons named Curry & one named Orr were put down on the indictment ^as witnesses for the Comwth^ The two Currys had left the State & gone into parts unknown to the petitioner.

Mr. Stewart failed to observe that Orrs name was endorsed as a witness, & therfor believed that ther would be no trial. of the Case. The case was tried in my absence & I was filned $60. because no defence was made against the charge.

I Kept a little store in this (Adair) County. I never sold spiritous liquors upon the recomendation of Dr. Hector Owens I bought a Keg (ten gallons) of ginger wine. I never sold that wine except once & then to a man whose wife was sick.

I stat to Your Excellency that I never Kept a tippling house & never ^sold^ a gile of spiritous liquors
unless the ginger wine containd it.

These are the facts. I ask to be released from a fine for a offence which I have not commited.

John W Christin

We state that we ~~are~~were the nearest of neighbours of John W. Christin while he resided at the house in this county in which he has been convicted of keeping a tipling house. We certify that we were often at his Store & that so far as we ~~[...]~~know or could observe he kept an orderly house -- that he did not keep a tipling house. He did not keep disorderly company about him. We earnestly join in his prayer

May 28. 1861

Hector Owens
Benjamin,, Grant
W^m. H. Arnold
N A Thomas
Wm T Smith
A F Harden
N R Thomas
W^m Stewart

Kentucky Adair County
John W. Christin states that he believes the statement of his petition are true.

E S Willis, P, J, A, C, C

To Gov' Magoffin --

I know the gentlemen whose names are affixed hereto as men of honor and perfect reliance can be placed in their statements, From what I have heard I believe this is a meritorious case --

Truly Your Obdt Servant
Nat Gaither

Petition

Remitted
B. M

Iss^d June 24

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