Thomas Purden/Purdon Kills Dick [?] (slave), Lincoln, 1864

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[July 20, 1865] -

Stanford Kenty 20" July 1865

To His Excellency Tho E Bramlette —

Your Petitioner Thomas Purdon would respectfully represent that in the fall of 1864, he was residing in the Town of Stanford where he was borned, and Just after dark it was announced, on the streets that horse theives were in a pasture adjoining the Town of Stanford attempting to catch two through bred race mares the property of W B Withers Mr Withers called upon Petitioner with others to assist him in protecting his property and in capturing the theives, and he together with others run under great excitement to the pasture when Petitioner was directed to gard one string of fence, whilst others entered the pasture and searched for the theives and others still, guarded the other sides of the pasture with the disign of capturing the theves if possible, Petitioner had only for a moment been stationed, at his post and was greatly Excited when in the darkness he thought he discovered some person advancing toward him up the fence, he was guarding; instantly he called out "hault" which was twice repeated and to no Effect as the person still advanced whereupon in the excitement of the Moment he fired, and unfortunately Killed Dick a Slave the property of Joseph McAlister, against whom Petitioner believes no suspicion could attend of Guilty intention to steal the horses aforesaid Petitioner statesd that at the September Term of the Lincoln Circuit Court last he was indicted by the Grand Jury of Lincoln for (Manslaughter) the Malicious Shooting and Killing of said boy — Now Petitioner states he was ^not^ guilty of Murderous intent in Killing said boy, That it was done in excitement of the moment, without any malice whatever, under the honest belief that said boy was the thief who was attempting to steal the two Mares aforesaid of W B Withers, all of which was by Petitioner acknowledged at the time of the Killling

It was a great and Lamentable mistake over which God Knows your Petitioner has been already sufficiently punished The regrets of which will follow him to the grave; but he feels that he is not a fit subject for the state prison, has no proof of his innocence save the facts alone stated, and is unwilling to be convicted upon the records of his native county of Such an Offence, and fears that under the peculiar circumstances of his case such might be the result, and therefore humbly begs your Excellency — will pardon him, for the Offence charged in said indictment, which he feels would be but Just to him, and believes will be approved by the Enlightened public sentiment of the County

Respectfully 

Thos Purdon

Sworn to before me by Thos Purdon this 21st dy of July 1865

S S McRoberts Clk L. C. C.

We the undersigned Citizens of Stanford and vicinity County Concur in the pryer of the above Petition of Thos Purdon and by his Excellency will pardon said Purdon for said Offence charged in the indictment now pending against him in the Office of the Lincoln Circuit Court this 21st July 1865

J H. Bridgewater 

T, W, Varnon 

A G Huffman M D 

W B Berrey J. P. L. C. 

M. V. Smith 

R. G. Craig 

E. S. Fisher 

Wm.A. Pollock 

P H Shanks 

John C. Cooper 

D. W. Vanderveer 

P. M. Talbot 

E. B. Caldwell S. L. C. 

H. T. Harris -- 

James M Shackelford 

G W Heath 

John Bridgewater 

H B Middletin 

H. P. Middleton 

Dayton Tucker 

James Tucker 

Willis G. Thurman 

Henry. R. Thurman 

S S McRoberts clk, L, C, C, 

R. Carson Clk. L. C. C. 

W G Bailey, [P] L C C 

George McRoberts M. D. 

Thos B Montgomery M D 

J. M. Higgins C. L. C. 

J. N. Hughes 

Simon Hicks 

Thos. C. Davis

Peyton Embree 

Mack Huffman 

W R Casson J P L C 

D. R. Camden 

T. P. Douglass 

W. A. Henson 

James Vanhook 

P [Spragens]

A. S. Myers 

W R Warren 

S M. Carver Town Marsh 

R. M. White Jailor 

J. C. Carter Merchant 

Robert R. Gentry, Farmer 

D W V

Lincoln Cir Ct 

vs 

Thos Purdom 

Pardoned & Penalties Remitted 29 Aug /65  [1]

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[August 27, 1865] -

Stanford 27" August 1865

Govr Bramlette

My Dear Sir I hand you herewith Petition of Thos Purden; you will see it is Signed by all the Leading Citizens in and around our Town, Purdem is a kind boy and Could have had no-Malice toward decedent for the killing of whom he was indicted —

The universal wish of our whole Community as far as I have heard it spoken of strongly favors his pardon — We are again blessed with peace, Quiet, & plenty in this Section of the State

Faithfully yours — 

Y. P. Idell

Tell. M. Page to write me immediately & Let Me Know — results   [2]

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[1] Thomas Purdon to Thomas E. Bramlette,  20 July 1865,  Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867,  BR14-272 to BR14-273,  Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives,  Frankfort,  KY.  Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition: Early Access, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-2076, (accessed September 17, 2016).

[2] Y. P. Idell to Thomas E. Bramlette,  27 August 1865,  Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867,  BR15-64 to BR15-65,  Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives,  Frankfort,  KY.  Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition: Early Access, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-2242, (accessed September 16, 2016).

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