Early Governors' Papers

To His Excellency Samuel Houston Esqr Governor in and over the State of Tennessee.

Your petitioners humbly complaining, would beg leave to represent to your Excellency that William Linch has been confined to the jail of Smith County by sentence of the Circuit Court for s^d County of October term 1827 in which con finement he is sentenced to remain for three months and pay a fine of one hundred dollars together with costs &c.

Your petitioners would further beg leave to represent that the prisoner is poor, very poor , and has a family who rely upon his exertion for a support-

He has been confined for stabbing which was done in a personal contest in Octr 1826.

The prisoner has obeyed the injunctions of the law in every particular since the unfortunate affair of stabbing (which, the man stabbed, acknow ledged, in his evidence on the trial, was done in a fight) except the payment of the fine & cost and remaining in prison the balance of the time for which he has been sentenced.

Your petitioners would, therefore, humbly pray that Your Excellency would, by your order, release s^d prisoner from his confinement and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will forever pray &c

15 Novr 1827

John Poke Willie Britt William Reeves John Moore John Walters Joseph Duke Irwin Little John Little Bimon Adamson John. B. Uhls Don C. Dixon Jesse Walters Billy M Oliver J. C. Robertson