SC1896_FF1_079

who were on Bail, were tried at the next Court
and acquitted without difficulty. In the conver
sation [conversation] before alluded to with the judge, he [Coles?]
me, that he had become satisfied, that they were
not Guilty of the offense charged, not withstand
ing [withstanding] the strong prima facie evidence of their
guilt. I purposely avoid giving these men, as
it would do me good. One of them, is a respect
able [respectable] man with a large family, residing at pre
sant [present] in Texas -One was hung a few years
ago, in Arkansas for murder. He was the young
est [youngest] son of a highly respectable man, who had
been a member of the Virginia & Kentucky le
gislatures [legislatures] - the other one, I have not heard of
in many years. They got themselves involved
in the great [difficulty?] by dissipation, they have
been the preceding day at a [Deer Hound?], fish
fry [?] where they had indulged freely in drink
ing [drinking], as well as eating - they were 15 or 20 miles
from home, & started to go home after night
but stopped at a "Doggery" by the way sides
where they became [smashed?] as above -
Not being satisfied with my residence in Winchester, Ky
I in 1820, made a tour of exploration to [M?]
where I had many friends with a view to exchange
of residences. I arrived in St. Lous on Saturday morn
ing [morning] before the 3rd Monday in September, on which day
the Legislature was to convene. It did conveneaccord
ingly [accordingly] on that day, & was organized in the usual form.
There was scarcely a man of business as member
of either House. Lient. Gov. Ashly, who was
ex officio speaker of the Senate, informed me, that