Early Governors' Papers

We the undersigned Certify that we are either personally, or from Character acquainted with Samuel Wallace who has during this Court has been Convicted under the statute of stabbing - we beleive M^r Wallace to be a peacable & quit Citizen One who is by no means disposed to be vitrious or disorderly some of the undersigned heard the testimony produced On the trialM^r Wallace has now on hand a crop which must require his strictest attention & that he has no person to protect his family or support him than himself M^r Wallace has fully satisfied M^r Cunningham for all damages he has sustained as we are informed We pray the Court that the punishment (so far as imprisonment may be inflicted) to dea as mildly with M^r Wallace as he can Consistent with his duty. 24^th Sept^r 1828 And that if Consistent with the feelings of the Court, that the imprisonment of M^r Wallace may be diminished & if necessary his fine enlargd

W^m P. Martin A. A. Kincannon James Randolph thomas witt Joseph Jinkins [St?] Griffis W^m Moore

State of Tinasee Lincoln County

the undersigned The Petition of the undersignd cittizens of the County & State afores^d to his Excellency Samuel Houston Esq^r Governor of the s^d State of Tinasee your Petitioners Humbly Sheweth that a Certain Sam^l McClure was apprehended in the town of Fayetteville in the County afo s^d, for haveing kiled a m^r McBride & was convicted for the same for murder your Petitioners beg leave to state that they think & believe from the Best information they can get some Previous altercation did take Place Betweaen s^d McClure & Mcbride in which Probably some threats was made by McClure to kill Mcbride but we think it Probably the affect of insanaty but when the assault & Battery was made by McBride on McClure McClure had turnd his Back & was walking of[f] home when s^d s^d McBride Ran out of his shop dore with his hamer & to[n]gs first threw his Hamer with such violence & striking McClure on his back nock'^d him down & before he had time to Rise threw his toings with such violence struck him on the Head & cut through his hat & into his scu ull Bone which stunted McClure & the s^d McBride being a large strong Robust man & McCure a small man McBrid was able to hold him & Beat him first with one hand & then with the other which he did untill he got his death wound, McClure not being able to get a way, your Petitioners therefore being impres'^d with a belief that the assault & battery was mad by McBride with intent to kill, & that McClure kil^d him in self defence your ^Petitioners therefore Humbly Conceive that it would be unjust to hang McClure under those impressions your Petitioners hope your Excellency in your Clemency will grant a pardon for McClure as by so doing your Petitioners in duty bound shall Ever Pray &c

W^m P. Martin William T Poss Josiah Smith Joel D. Clements James P. Plenco Felix G M^cConnell H M H [Memon?] G W Blakemore John Roberts James Milsted Patrick glisten Zulus Milsted John Milsted Charles M^cKinney John M^cKeney G. W. Lang Milton Posey Orden W Poiter James Laylor James M^cKeney [Roth?] W Woodruff James Cuningham [?] Wallace]] William Swinney Tho^s Laton Jesse Coley James Swinney Benjamin Butler Cread Taylor John Taylor W^m H Taylor John Smith Jonathan C Taylor G W L. F M Taylor Tho^s J Adams John q adams James Adames W^m S Adams Lewis E Meal Taylor Eligia Taylor William Marshall Onean Taylor John S Taylor Jackson Taylor Abslam Taylor