Early Governors' Papers

To his Excellency Samuel Houston Governor of the State of Tennessee

The Humble petition of George Broils, States to your Excellency that at February term of the Circuit court for White county, he was convicted upon an Indictment for Stabbing under the Act of 1807- We the petitioners state that we have understood the case and find it to be as follows, that the Defendant in said suit walked up to a certain Matthew G Moore, who is a large man, and who had the brother in law of the Def^t by the coller, and said boys you are no going to fight have a fuss, the other replied do you take it up, Def^t answered he did not want to see his brother-in law hurt that Moore immediately Grabed him by the throat and took off the skin from his neck that in the scuffle Brails knowing which was the fact that Moore had many friends, and himself none, and Moores friends having refused to let them be parted drew out a small pen knife and stabb Moore, that there was no great injury done, but the court has fined him fifty dollars, and three months imprisonment- We beg therefore in as much as we know said Brails to be a good peace= =able orderly Citizen, that he may receive your Excellencys pardon in this behalfFebry 27 1828.-