Early Governors' Papers

Nashville 4^th June 1816.

The undersigned beg leave to represent to your excellency, that at the late sitting of the circuit court of the county of Davidson they appeared as counsel for John Bowden who was charged with receiving stolen goods to the amount of about twenty dollars, & that on his trial he was found guilty by the jury - They further represent that the said John Bowden is about fifty five years of age that he has a family of children, that he is poor, and that in the fifty five years which the prisoner has lived, he has never ^before been charged with any crime - The undersigned would further represent that in their opinion the public good will not be subserved by the infliction of corporal punishment imprisonment or fine on so aged & indigent a man. They undersigned there fore pray your excellency to grant your pardon to the prisoner -

very respectfully.

Felix Grundy Alfred Balch.

His Excellency Jo^s M^cMinn Esq^r

I am of opinion that John Bowden is a proper subject for the exercise of the clemency of the Executive 6^th June 1816

A. B. Heyes

May Term

Nashville June 12^th 1816.

Dear sir,

Inclosed you will receive a copy of judgment of the Davidson Circuit court against William Lashley for horse stealing; you will also secure a letter from Judge Searcy to yourself, and one from Judge Stewart to me, from which you will discover that William Lashley, is a fit subject for executive interposition; he has requested me to petition you for a pardon, you will consider this as an application for that purpose - no person here wishes him pun= ished, although his guilt is manifest, he is an object of universal commiseration he is young was seduced by an experienced villain, he is a cripple and unable to walk a formal petition signed by him is deemed unnecessary; at any rate it is impracticable to obtain it, as I am confined to my bed by sickness - You will be so good as to enclose his pardon to me (if granted) by mail, as soon as practicable, I wish it done shortly, as I shall soon leave home, if able to ride for the recovery of my health. yrs respectfully

Felix Grundy

1 Oz., 74

His Excellency Joseph M^cMinn, Knoxville Tennessee.

W^m Lashley pardoned 24 June 1816

Felix Grundy

agreed to a verdict of guilty as it approachd so near to a case of excuseable killing in self defence.

Alpha Kingsley William Davis Jason Thompson J. A Mennifee Lewis Speace Sen^r. John C Hicks John Haynes Boyd M^cNairy Harris Green W. J. Johnson Elmore Douglass Alfred Flornoy Cullin Edwards John D Venable Charles Hartly Edmund Hewlett Samuel Long John Folwell J. P Downes John [Marey? Marly?] T. J. Ayer Samuel Houston Robert Armstrong

James Trimble council for the defd^t I concur in this petition, because I believe from the evidence it was a case of excuseable Homicide in self defence -

Robert [?] Adams- one of the council for the Prisoner- I subscribe to this petition because I believe that any other man ^person would have acted in the same manner under Similar Circumstances-

In addition to the above reasons I add my signature because I hope that a youth whose habits can scarcely be considerd confirmd, may be reclaimd if restord to the Bosom of his parent before his Spirits are too much Broken.

Gidion Blackburn

I think he ought certainly to be pardond Felix Grundy Council [?]

For the above reasons I subscribe this petition G W Gibby

Franklin, Aug^t 10^th 1818-

Dear Sir,

I am very much engaged, but presume to drop a hasty line to you on the sub= =ject of a successor to our late friend Alexander,- M^r Brady has claims to y^r consideration which I hope will be taken into view- he is a gentleman of excellent talents, he possesses in my opinion all those qualifications which would enable him to discharge the duties of the office with credits to himself and advantage to the Country- In addition to this; he has made himself what he is, and such men deserve patronage- y^rs respectfully

Felix Grundy