I'm in the process of typing up another Barren Co Circuit Court book (volume #9). These were transcribed by the late Gladys Benedict Wilson and given to me before her death. I promised her that I would attempt to get them all in print. I thought this was a good sample of cases heard before the Circuit Court and might be of interest. Detective work in 1831 might not be as fancy as today, but they did their jobs! Spelling shown as in the originals. Sandi File # not shown, June 1831 COMMONWEALTH vs CHARLES PEDEN &c Barren County Circuit Court - Executed on BEN PEDEN & WM JONES 24 May 1831 - JNO M LOGAN, DS for SAM'L MURRELL, SBC. The Commonwealth of Kentucky to the Sheriff of Barren County KY Greetings: Whereas CHARLES PEDEN who was charged with felony before ASA YOUNG k& LEON'D MAURY two of the Justices of the peace of Barren County on the 25th day of November 1829, with BENJAMIN PEDEN & WILLIAM JONES his sureties, entered into the following recognizance before said Justices of the peace - Be it remembered that CHARLES PEDEN, BENJAMIN PEDEN and WILLIAM JONES this day personally appeared before ASA YOUNG &k LEONARD H MAURY - and severally acknowledged themselves indebted to the Commonwealth of KY in the sum of $400., that is to say CHARLES PEDEN in the sum of $200. and the said BENJAMIN PEDEN and WILLIAM JONES in the sum of $100. each - to be levied of their respective lands & tenements, goods & chattels; but to be void upon the said CHARLES PEDEN's personally appearing in the Circuit Court for the County aforesaid on the first day of the next March Term, and surrendering himself in custody to answer to the Commonwealth for a felony with which he is charged. /s/ CHARLES (X) PEDEN, BENJAMIN PEDEN, WILLIAM JONES. Test: ASA YOUNG, JP; LEON'D H MAURY. Which said recognizance was returned by said Justices to our Barren Court - and CHARLES PEDEN failed to appear in discharge of the recognizance on the first day of next March court after the date of the recognizance against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky you are therefore commanded to make known to CHARLES PEDEN, BENJAMIN PEDEN and WILLIAM JONES, that they be before the Judge of our Barren Circuit Court at the courthouse in Barren County on the 1st day of our next June Term, to show cause if any they can, why the Court shall not proceed to give judgement against them according to the tenor and effect of their recognizance aforesaid, if they shall think fit. And further to do and abide by what our said Court shall in that behalf adjudge concerning them. And have there then this writ, Witness, RICHARD GARNETT, Clerk of our Said Court at the Courthouse this 20th day of April 1831, And of the Commonwealth the 39th. Recognizance of Witnesses: Be it remembered that JOHN McFERRAN, WILLIAM MARTIN Jr., JOHN ALLEY, JAMES D. SMITH, WILLIAM W. MAURY, JOSHUA WILBORN, & HEZEKIAH MURRELL - gave bond in the sum of $10. each etc. to appear in the next circuit court to give evidence in behalf of the Commonwealth against CHARLES PEDEN on a charge of felony. Signed by all. 12 May 1830 - Summons - executed on WM JONES & BENJ. PEDEN 18 June and noted the within CHARLES PEDEN no inhabitant of Barren County. True Bill: SAMUEL ANDERSON, Foreman of the Jury. State of Kentucky Barren County Circuit, SCT: The Grand Jurors for the Commonwealth of Kentucky empanelled and sworn to enquire for the body of the Barren County on their oath represent that on the first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine, in the County of Barren and within the jurisdiction of the Barren Circuit Court, CHARLES PEYDEN [sic] late of Barren County, labourer, feloniously did steal take and carry away three sides of tanned leather of the value of eight dollars, of the proper goods and chattels of one HEZEKIAH MURREL then and there found contrary to the form of the Statute in such cases made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. /s/ STEPHEN T. LOGAN, Atty for the Comm'th. Statement and Search Warrant: 25 November 1829 - Whereas I have received information on oath from HEZEKIAH P. MURRELL that the following property, Viz: one or more sides of Leather was on the 19th day of this Instant feloniously taken stolen and carried away out of the possession of the said HEZEKIAH P MURRELL in the County aforesaid who hath probably cause to suspect that the said leather is concealed in the House or about the plantation of CHARLES PEDEN in said County - you with the necessary and proper assistants enter in the daytime into the house & plantation of said CHARLES PEDEN and there diligently to search for the said leather. And if the leather or an part thereof shall be found upon such search that you bring the same and also the body of CHARLES PEDEN before me or some other Justices of the County to be disposed of & dealt with according to law. 21 Nov 1829. /s/ LEON'D H MAURY, JPBC. Report: Found 3 sides of undressed Leather in the Loft of CHARLES PEDEN's House, which with the same and body of s'd PEDEN is herewith returned. /s/ J D SMITH - Constable Barren Co. Statement (on back of paper): The within contains a brief statement of the evidence produced in support of the charge against CHARLES PEDEN for larceny. This 25th Nov 1827. /s/ ASA YOUNG - LEON'D H MAURY. JOHN McPHERSON sworn: Had examined the vat the day before the Leather was taken, no sign of Leather to be seen & it was frozen over - the next day the ends of leather was to be seen above the bark in the vat & ooze about the vat. Ooze on the Barn gate & Orchard fence in two places, Horse track through the plantation & tracked the horse & sign of Ooze to PEDEN's & on the door of his house. The leather found in the loft of his House. PEDEN's horses track answered the measure of the one through the plantation. Leather tanned by MURRELL with Ground bark. PEDEN's tan trough bark put in in pieces, mostly white oak, some little red and black oak - wheat on the leather when found. WM MARTIN, Jr.: Sed the Ooze & Horse track through the plantation & woods to PEDEN's House, on the door, leather found in PEDEN's house loft Welt [wet?] when found had the appearance of being packed in a bag or something in as small compass as possible. PEDEN's Horse tracks correspond with the Tracks through the plantation up to PEDEN's. JAMES D. SMITH: Sign of Ooze as McPHERSON. Track of horse traced to near CHARLES PEDEN's house - believes PEDEN's horse track to be the same as in the plantation. Ooze on the door but none on the joist or boards of the loft. Leather had no appearance of being hung upon a pole or rail. The Leather found tanned with ground or beat bark, wheat on the leather, white oak, red and black oak bark at PEDEN's trough. WM. W. MAURY: Ooze track of Horse &c - same testimony as others. Ground or beat bark on the leather found at PEDEN's. JOHN ALLEY: The leather found at PEDEN's very much like the leather taken up at MURRELL's - thinks the leather tanned with ground bark. BENJ'A PEDEN: Helped CHARLES carry 3 sides from this father's trough about 4 or 5 weeks ago. Does not know how CHARLES came by the Leather. Leather tanned in his Father's trough with White Oak and Red oak bark & in long pieces. Carried the leather on a rail hung smooth over it. Believes the leather to be the same that he helped CHARLES carry home. End of File, no resolution found. Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html GGP: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/