City of Springfield} Jan 21st. A.D. 1856.
To his Excellency The Governor of the state of Illinois. The undersigned your petitioners, humbly present to your honor the following statement of facts which are submitted for your just consideration. On or about the 15th of May last one James H. Lee was committed by Justice Adams of this City upon a charge of larceny---he remained in the Jail of Sangamon county until the last Term of the circuit court at which time he was sentenced by his Honor, Judge Davis to one year's imprisonment in the penitentiary. Your petitioners respectfully represent that although the said Lee may have been guilty of taking the sum of money alledged towit---$26.00, yet we believe that it was the first time he was ever guilty of a crime & we sincerly think he has determined &