Elizabeth, a free girl of color 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.

 Elizabeth, a free girl of color vs. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville November Term, 1827 August 4, 1827 Elizabeth, a free girl of color Menard, Francois Landreville, Andre Treaspass with Force and Arms 13 St. Louis Circuit Court Gamble, Archibald Simonds, R. Bass McGirk 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 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 McGirk Gamble, Archibald Simpson, R. St. Louis Circuit Court State of Missouri County of St. Louis Ss In the Circuit Court November term 1827.

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

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

We command you to summon Francois Menard and Andre Landreville that they be and appear before the Juddge of an 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 into Elizabeth who sues by Alexis Amelin her next friend of a plea of Trespass to the damage of said plaintiff of Five Hundred Dollars and have you then there this writ

Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Court of office this fourth day of August 1827 Archibald Gamble Clerk

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

R. Simpson Sheriff Service $ 1.00 non Est 50 1.50 July 12 1828. Francois Menard not found & R Simpson Shff No 13 In the St. Louis Circuit Court November term 1827.

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

Declaration

This is an action of assault & Battery and false imprisonment

Let a summon issue

Bass & McGirk P L. Filed 4th August 1827, Archibald Gamble Clerk Amended declaration filed 18th December 1827 Arch Gamble Clerk St. Louis Cicuit 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 a suit against Francois Menard and Andre Landreville for Establishing their right to freedom and that they may be permitted to sue as poor persons - thereupon 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 plaintiff shall not be taken or removed out of the Jurisdiction of this Court and that the said plaintiff shall not be subject to any seventy of treatment on account of then said application for freedom

Archibald Gamble Clerk > County of St. Louis The State of Misouri 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 he held at the City of St. Louis within and for the County of St. Louis on the fourth monday of July next then and their to answer unto Elizabeth who sues by Alexis Amelin her next friend of a plea of trespass to the damage of said plaintiff of Five Hundred dollars and have you then there this writ

Witness archibald Gamble Clerk of our aid Court at office this Ninth day of may One thousand Eight hundred and twenty Eight 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 McGirk Simonds, R. St. Louis Circuit Court Elizabeth vs Francois Menard & Andre Laundreville St. Louis Circuit Court Mr Andre Laundreville

Will take notice that on the 13th day of the present month between the hours of 9 O clock in the forenoon and 5 O clock in the afternoon of that day at the office of V in thi city we shall proceed to take the depositions of witneses to be read in the above suit in behalf of the plaintiff.

St. Louis Nov 6th 1827. Bass & McGirk Attys for Pltff

Elizabeth vs Menard & Landreville notice

Served a Copy of the within notice on Andre Landreville Nov. 8th 1827 in St. Louis Ln Simonds 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 term 1827 Andre Landreville Elizabeth

And the said Andre Landreville by his attorney and defends the force and injury wherefore and says he is not guilty of the said supposed trespass assaults and battery ; imprisonment and detentions above said to his charge or anypart thereof in manner & form as the said Elizabeth by her next friend Alexis Amelin hath above thereof against him and of this he the said Andre Landreville puts himself upon the county and the said plaintiff doth the like Bass & McGirk for pltff

And for further plea in this behalf the said Andre Landreville says the said Elizabeth ought not to have or maintain her aforesaid action thereof against him because he says that the said Andre Landreville at the times mentioned in the said declaration had not nor claimed to have nor hath he nor doth he now claim to have but disavoweth and disclaimeth to have any title claim or interest in and to then said Elizabeth and thus then said Andre Landreville is ready to testify wherefore he prays judgement if the said plaintiff ought to have or maintain aforesaid action against him

attorney for dnt No 13 November Term 1827

Elizabeth vs Landreville

filed for 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 McGirk Gamble, Archibald St. Louis Circuit Court Elizabeth vs A Landreville

and the said, Elizabeth for replication to the plea of the said Landreville secondly above plea did 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 times in her said declaration mentioned & before the said several times did claim to have & hold the said Elizabeth as a slave & doth still claim the said Elizabeth as a slave and of this she the said Elizabeth puts hereof upon the county & C.

Bass & McGirk Attys for Pltff .

Elizabeth vs Landreville

Rep filed Decr 2nd 1828 A Gamble Clk