Early Governors' Papers

Columbia April 17^th 1816

To His Excellency Joseph M^cMinn

Sir

We the undersigned members of the Bar in West Tennessee understanding the Honourable John Overton to have resigned as Judge of the Court of Appeals with due deference to your Judgment beg leave to recommend to your excellency John Haywood Esqr as a suitable person to fill that important office and one in whome we believe the people have greater confidence than any other of our acquaintance who would accept of the appointment

J Whiteside Alfred M Harris George Coatter P R Booker David Craighead Robert L. Cobbs John White Joel Casey Rob^t Mack Daniel Graham

balance of the six Months, your petitioners represent they are strongly induced to believe he was induced to commit the offence by another man who he was in company with & who was convicted at the same time said Bramblett was; They are also well satisfied that he is utterly unable to pay the costs that have already accrued (and of that opinion was the Court having made an order for the County [Trustee?] of [illegible] to pay the same) and that in the event of his remaining in pri son the balance of his time the County will be made respon sable [sic] under the Law for the additional costs. That if imprison mant [sic] will produce a reformation or even if the punishment will [attone?] for the offence he has remained in prison for ten months which is sufficiently long to answer either purpose of it can be efficted [sic] thereby [those?] things considered your petitioners humbly solicit your Excellency to pardon the said Sanford Bramblett the [balance?] of his imprisonment

Joel Casey P.R. Barker Jo. Herndon