1

Jackson Dec^r 23^rd 1828-

Dear Sir -

I herewith enclose you the memorial of
sundry citizens of the county of Henderson together
with the certificate of His Honour J. C. Hamilton
praying for the pardon of Wiliam Walden Sn^r
for the supposed murder of William B. Smith
deceased - Walden is an old revolutionary
soldier now about 75 or 80 years of age, bent
almost double, and withall a maniac -
He was unble to employ counsel, and I was
assigned by the court - He is no doubt
deranged and very likely was so when he killed
William B. Smith if he did so at all - there was no
evidence except of a circumstantial nature, and
weak at that, still ^he was able to prove a first
rate character for the last 20 years by Adam
Huntsman James Chissum and John B. Cross
as respectable men as we have in this country
I felt very confident he would be acquitted
if he could be tried - But the Judge refused
to try any man who from derangment of