Early Governors' Papers

Carthage September 29^th 1819

Dear Sir

This will probably be handed you with a Petition praying for a pardon for a Thomas Robert B Flood of this County who was lately found Guilty of Man Slaughter & who unfortunatly [sic] came into contact with a certain Pleasant Kearby of Jackson County and a neighbor of mine, and killed him and the general opinion in the neigh =borhood is, and has been that he was measurably compelled to do it in his own defence, I heard the testimony on his trial and thought him as Just =ifiable as one person could be Justified for killing an other unless he had run away, He is a youth of a bout 18 years of age without any parents to council or dirict [sic] him but has conne =ctions of the first respectability in this County and he himsef has always been highly esteemed by his acquaintances and if ever there was a case which the interposition of the Executive was required I think Mr Floods case is one - But in this you are the best Judge when you hear his case stated

Accept Sir the assurances of my esteem with my best wishes for your happiness

S. Williams