L. M. Cox to Beriah Magoffin

KYR-0001-020-2041.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-2041

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

MG24-51 to MG24-52

Place of Creation

Flemingsburg, Fleming County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

10 July 1862

Dates Mentioned

1862-07-10

1862-06

L. M. Cox to Beriah Magoffin, 10 July 1862, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, MG24-51 to MG24-52, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-2041, (accessed December 28, 2024).

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Flemingsburg July 10^th 1862
To his Excellency Beriah Magoffin
Gov. of Kentucky --
Dear Sir

When in Frankfort in June last I filed with your secretary a petition signed by a number of Gent of Mason and Fleming Counties, praying your Excellency to pardon Henry Heffhenstein and remit the remaining portion of the time he had to serve in the state prison -- and I in conjunction with Mr Cord an attorney who resides here stated that the gentlemen who signed said petition were respectable citizens Since my return -- home I have been requested by several gentlemen to write to you and unite in the prayer of the petition I am satisfied that Helphestein was the dupe and tool of sharper men, who have escaped punishment. And believing that he would not again engage in violations of the criminal laws, and as he has a family, wife, and children I believe, who depend alone upon him for support I most earnestly ask your Excellency to pardon him and release him prison. Henry Helphenstein was a private in the company which I raised and
commanded in the war with Mexico, and in that service during the campaign he behaved him well and did his duty as a soldier -- Independent of the reasons which would prompt me to interpose in his behalf every true representation of the history of his case and claims to your clemency, his service in my company in Mexico created a strong claim upon my humanity and justice. And I feel that I discharging a pleasant duty in -- presenting his just claims to your favour He has under the sentence of the law remained sometime in prison -- and all that could be expected from his conviction has been accomplished -- and now when a helpness woman and little children require his labour for their support, I feel that I may -- justly appeal to you in his behalf and ask that he ^be^ pardoned and permitted to return to -- their support -- I make this earnest request under a due sense of duty to the community in which Helphenstein resides as well as in accordance with the dictates of humanity to the convict and prisoner. My friend Dr E. Logan will add his request -- and I hope not unavailing petition in the prisoner's behalf.

I am dear Sir
your friend & Ob^t Serv^t
L, M, Cox

I fully concur in the statement of Capt Cox and in addition would add that his little farm has been sold under Execution and that he has a wife and five helpless children dependent on the charity of the neighborhood for support, and his pardon would be act of humanity and all the ends of Justice satisfied

Your friend and
obed sevt
E. Logan

Helfhenstein's Case Par-

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