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To his Excellency Joseph M. Minn
Governor of the State of Tennessee

We the undersigned petitioners humbly
sheweth unto your Excellency that John Leish late
of the County of Warren and State of Tennessee
is now under sentence of the Law on a charge
of having committed a Rape, and in as much
as the sentence will be executed without
Executive interference: We beg leave further to
suggest to your excellency that the said John
Leish has some respectable connections in the
County of Warren, and further that he is a
very young & inexperienced man, and that no
serious charges has hitherto been brought against
him, we therefore conceived him to be a fit
object of your Mercy: By granting him
your gracious pardon you will have the
pleasing consolation of having restored a
young man to the Arms of his disconsolate
parents, and of initiating [?] your heavenly,
father Who showeth Mercy to the penetent."
You Sir know how to apreciate the feelings
of a parent. We therefore humbly hope that
you will take his case into your wise consideration,
and in your wisdom & clemency grant
him your most gracious pardon and
we your petitioners as in duty bound will see.

Peter Starnes