Virginia vs. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

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 November term, 1827 August 4, 1827

The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.

 Virginia vs. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville November term, 1827 August 4, 1827 Virginia, a free girl of color Menard, Francois Landreville, Andre Treaspass with Force and Arms 14 St. Louis Circuit Court Gamble, Archibald Simonds Simpson, R. Bass, John M. McGirk, Isaac unknown ED performed final review of legal encoding TY deciphered most of vendor's unclear tags throughout entire document TY proofread and corrected transcription errors through entire document TY found no index of returns references through entire document MB added legal information Complaint

This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.

 Complaint Bass, John M. McGirk, Isaac Gamble, Archibald Simpson, R. St. Louis Circuit Court State of Missouri County of St. Louis Sct. In the Circuit Court November Term 1827..

Virginia a free girl of color held in slavery who is permitted by he court to sue by Alexis Amelin her next friend as a poor person by her attorneys John M Bass & Isaac C McGirk assigned as Counsel by said writ complains of Francois Menard & Andre Landreville of a plea of trespass with force & arms for that the said defendants heretofore to writ on the first day of Jany in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred twenty seven with force & arms at the County of St. Louis aforesaw unlawfully an assault did make in & upon the said Virginia and then and there beat bruised & ill-treated the said Virginia and then & there imprisoned her and kept and detained, her in prison without any reasonable or probable cause whatsoever, and have ever since kept & detained her the said Virginia in prison and do still, detain & keep her in prison against her will contrary to the laws of the state and the plaintiff avers that before & at the time of the committing the grievances aforesaid she was & still is a free person and that the defendants held & detained her & still hold & detain her the said plaintiff in slavery and other wrongs then and there did to the said Virginia against the peace of this state wherefore the said Virginia says she is injured & has sustained damage to the amount of five hundred dollar and therefore she sues &c

Bass & McGirk Alty P. Q. The State of Missouri County of St. Louis To the Sheriff of St. Loui County Greeting

We command you to summon Francois Menard and Andre Landreville that they be and appear before the Judge of our Circuit Court at the next term thereof to be held at the City of St. Louis within and for the County of St. Louis on the fourth monday of November next then and there to answer unto Virginia who sues by Alexis Amelin her next friend of or plea of Trespass to the damage of the said plaintiff Five hundred Dollars and have you then there two writ

Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Court at office this fourth day of August One thouand Eight hundred and twenty seven Archibald Gamble Clerk

Executed this writ on Andre Landreville Augut 8th 1827 in the City of St. Louis by informing him of the Content thereof and his acknowledging the service of the same Francois Menard not found in my County Nov. 10th 1827

S. Simpson Sheriff Francois Menard not found July 1.2.1828 R. Simpson Shff Service $1.00 non Est 50 1.50 1 . 50 8th Augt No 14 In the St. Louis Circuit Court Novi Term 1827.

Virginia a free girl of Color vs Francois Menard & Andre Landreville

This is an action of assault & Battery and false imprisonment.

Let a summon issue Bass & McGirk P. Q.

filed 4h August 1827 Archibald Gamble Clerk amended declaration filed 18h December 1827 Arch Gamble Clerk St. Louis Circuit Court July Term 1827

John M Bass presents to the Court the petition of Elizabeth , Virginia and Victoire Children of Mary a colored woman praying that they may be permitted to institute suit against Francois Menard and Andre Landreville for Establihing their right to freedom and that they may be permitted to sue as poor persons - therefore the Court permit the said Elizabeth , Victoire and Virginia to sue as aforesaid and direct that an action of assault and Battery and false imprisonment be commenced against the said defendants by their next friend in the names of the said Elizabeth , Victoire and Virginia and assign John M Bass and Isaac C McGirk as their Counsel and it is ordered by the Court that the said defendants permit the said plaintiffs to have a reasonable liberty of attending their counsel and the Court when occasion may require it and that the said plaintiffs shall not be taken or removed out of the jurisdiction of this court and that the said plaintiffs shal not be subject to any severity of treatment on account of their said application for freedom

A True Copy of the order Arch Gamble Clerk The State of Missouri County of St. Louis To the Sheriff of St. Louis County Greeting

We command you to summon Francois Menard that he be and appear before the judge of our Circuit Court at the next term thereof to be held at the City of St. Loui within and for the county of St. Louis on the fourth monday of July next then and there to answer into Virginia who sues by Alexis Amelin her next friend of a plea of trespass to the damage of the said plaintiff of Five hundred dollar and have you then there this writ

Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Court at Office this 9h day of May 1828 Archibald Gamble Clerk Deposition Notice

This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.

 Deposition Notice Bass, John M. McGirk, Isaac Simonds, Jn. St. Louis Circuit Court Virginia vs Francois Menard & Andre Landreville St.Louis Circuit Court

The last named defendent will take notice that on May 13th the day of this month between the hours of 9 O clock in the forenoon and 5 O clock in the afternoon of that day at the of fice of J.V. in this city we still all proceed to take the depositions of witnesses to be read in the above suit in behalf of the Plaintiff

St Louis 6th of Nov: 1827. Bass & Mc Girk Attys for Pltff

Verginia vs Menard & Landreville. notice

Served a copy of the within notice on Andre Landreville Nov 8th 1827 in St Louis Jn Simonds Jr . Dp Sheriff Service $ 0.50 Answer to Complaint

This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.

 Answer to Complaint Gamble, A. St. Louis Circuit Court November 1827 Andre Landreville Virginia

And the said Andre Landreville by his attorney causes & defends this force and injury wherefore and says he is not guilty of the said supposed trespass assaults & battery imprisonments & detentions above said to his charge or any part thereof in manner and form as the said Virginia by her next friend Alexis Amelin hath above thereof a gainst him and of this he the said Andre Landreville puts himself upon the County- and the Plaintiff doth the like McGirk & Bass for Pltff

And for further plea in this he half the said Andre Landreville says the said Virginia ought not to have or maintain her aforesaid action against him because he says that he the said Andre at the times mentioned in this declaration had not nor claimed to have her hath he nor doth he now claim to have but disavoweth and disclaimeth to have any title claim or interest in and to the said Virginia and this the said Andre Landreville is ready to verify wherefore he prays Judgement if the said Plaintiff ought to have or maintain this aforsaid action against him

attorney for defendent No 14 November Term 1827

Virginia vs Plea Landreville

Filed Nov 29th 1827 A Gamble clk Reply to Defendant's Answer

This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.

 Reply to Defendant's Answer Bass, John M. McGirk, Isaac Gamble, Archibald St. Louis Circuit Court Virginia vs A Landreville

and the said, Virginia for replication to the plea of the said Landreville secondly above pleaded says that She ought not to be barred & precluded from having & maintaining her action aforesaid against the said Landreville because she says that the said Landreville at the said several times in her said declaration mentioned & before the said several times did claim to have & hold the said Virginia as a slave & does still claim the said Virginia as a slave and of this she the said Virginia puts hereof upon the county & C.

Bass & McGirk for Pltff .

Virginia vs Landreville

Rep filed Decr 2nd 1828 A G Clk