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Nashville June 6^th 1816

Dear sir,

This day judgment was passed on W^m Lashley, for
horsestealing. He intends applying for a pardon; and execution
of the judgment, was defered at the instance of this counsel,
until July; in order to afford him an opportunity for that
purpose. As to the general principles upon which the power of
pardoning should be exercised, it does not become me to
speak. Nor would I be understood, as officiously interfering
with your Excellency's prerogative in this respect. My sole
object is, to submit a plain statement of facts, by which
you will be enabled to exert your own unbiased judg=
ment on the subject.

He was convicted upon the fullest evidence; the fact of the
taking being positively proved, and the felonious intent
demonstrated by irresistible circumstances. The horse was an
estray, in the possession of the takerup; from whom, Lashley
obtained a delivery of him, by fraud and artifice; which was
expounded by the court, to be tantamount to a felonious ta=
king,. Nay, he confessed that he knew the horse not to be his
property, when he applied for him as such. He was not able
to produce a single witness in exculpation of himself,