William D. Ratcliffe, Affidavit

KYR-0001-020-1724.xml

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Citation
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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1724

Document Genre

Legal/Financial

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

MG23-41 to MG23-42

Place of Creation

Bracken County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

5 March 1862

Dates Mentioned

1861-02

1862-03-05

1862-03-10

William D. Ratcliffe, Affidavit, 5 March 1862, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG23-41 to MG23-42, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-1724, (accessed November 4, 2025).

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To his Excellency B Magoffin Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The affiant Wm D. Ratcliffe States at the present term of the Bracken Circuit Court, he was fined Two Hundred Dollars for Selling Liquor to Minors -- he states that he is a Hotel keeper in the town of Brooksville, and has never intentionally sold or permitted to be sold any Spiritous ^or vinous^ Liquor to Minors, ^since he had a knowledge of said law^ he has always instructed his bar keeper, to observe strictly the law in relation to selling to Minors, and has always had a written notice posted up in his house forbidding such sale. Affiant would further state that one indictment was for selling liquor to Joseph Adamson, who was sworn and testifed as follows "he said he got one quart of whisky at my house in February 1861, from a man by the name of Faulkner, that he was quite unwell, and the Dr who was attending upon him, directed him to get some whiskey for bitters, he was not quite 21 years old, had not the written consent of his Parents, altho his Father & Mother knew that he got it and approved of it, Ratcliffe was not present, he got the Liquor of a man by the name of Faulkner, who was a boarder then at the time" Affiant states that he knows nothing of the selling whisky to Joseph Adamson, that the aforesaid Falkner was boarding at his house, and occationally, when he and his clerk happened both to be absent
he Faulkner would go behind the bar and wait upon his customers.

Affiant also states that he was fined for selling whisky to John Williams who was sworn, and stated "that he was under 21 years of age, that he had been bar keeper for affiant a short time, that he was in his employ by the consent of his Father, and while he was bar keeper affiant told him not to sell liquor to Minors, that he had got liquor there afterwards of a man by the name of Faulkner and paid him for it, Ratcliffe was not present at the time".

He was also fined for selling to W A Donovan who was sworn, and stated "that he was under age, and had got Liquor once at affiants house, was not certain who he got it from"

He was also fined for selling to John Wall, who stated "that he was not of age and he had got whisky once at affiants bar, did not recollect who he got it from Ratcliffe had refused to let him have whisky J R Smarr was also sworn, and testified "that he had been bar keeper for affiant a long time, that affiant had frequently told him to be very cautious and not sell liquor to Minors, he stated that he had refused to let them have it on various occasions, and never did let them have it when he knew they were Minors, he stated that he knew Faulkner well, he boarded at Ratcliffs, was a painter by trade and followed the business while boarding there.

Your Affiant would further state, that he never has knowingly sold Liquor to Minors, ^since his knowledge of the passage of this law^ and has always cautioned all who were in his employ not to sell Liquor to any one under age.

He states that Faulkner was a boarder at his house, and would occationally go behind the bar, at times when he and his bar keeper happened to be absent, and he supposes then Minors got the Liquor from him, he states that said Faulkner was not his agent, and if he did sell the Liquor to these Minors, it was done without his knowledge or consent. Affiant respectfully prays that your Excellency will interpose, and by his clemency and mercy stop the rigor of the law, and remit said fines so far as you legally can.

W. D Ratcliffe

Sworn to before me by W D Ratcliffe March 5 ^th 1862
C. H. Lee P J B C C

W. D. Ratcliffe
Affidavit

Remitted
B. M.

Bracken Cir. Ct.
$50. 4 cases } Selling liquor to minors.

Iss^d Mar. 10. 1862

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