Gabriel, a man of color v. Andrew Christy and Mary Coons This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

There are no known copyright restrictions on this item. You are free to use this item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Washington University Libraries does not assert copyright in reproduction scans of public domain materials made openly available on its websites. For more information on policies and procedures governing the use of materials, contact digital@wumail.wustl.edu.

 December 28, 1846 November Term 1846

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

 Gabriel, a man of color v. Andrew Christy and Mary Coons December 28, 1846 November Term 1846 Gabriel Christy, Andrew Coons, Mary Trespass False Imprisonment Assault Battery 324 St. Louis Circuit Court Ruland, John Coons, George W. Gallagher, Hugh Shepley, John, R. Spalding Tiffany MM deciphered vendor's unclear tag through line 31 MM deciphered vendor's unclear tag through line 67 (finished!) KT finished legal encoding KT removed comment tags, added caseTitle, and moved legalFunction tags CM performed final review of legal encoding Plaintiff's 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.

 Plaintiff's Complaint Shepley, John R. Ruland, John St. Louis Circuit Court St. Louis Circuit Court . November Term 1846 St. Louis County ss

Gabriel (man of color) by his attorneys complains of Andrew Christy Executor and Mary Coons Executrix of the Estate of David Coons deceased of a plea of trespass . For that the said defendants on the third day of August in the year Eighteen hundred & forty six at St. Louis , to wit; at said County, with force & arms &c, made an assault upon the said plaintiff, and then & there beat bruised and illtreated him the said plaintiff, and then & there imprisoned him the said plaintiff, and kept and detainted him in prison there without any reasonable or probable cause whatsoever for a long time to wit, for the space of seventy two hours, then next following contrary to the laws and customs of this country and against the will of the said plaintiff, and the said plaintiff avers that before and at the time of the grievances aforesaid he was and still is a free person, and that the defendants held and still hold him in slavery, and the said defendants then & there did other wrongs to the said plaintiff, to the great damage of the said plaintiff and against the peace of the country, wherefore the said plaintiff saith that he is injured , and hath sustained damage to the amount of three five hundred dollars and therefore he brings his suit &c

John R Shepley Atty for Plff

Papers filed 17p. 447- Submitted to Court & Judgement 17 p 448- Jan. 4, 1847

324 November Term 1846 St.Louis Circuit Court Gabriel (of Colour) vs Andrew Christy & Mary Coons , Executor & executrix of David Coons

Narr.

In Trespass for assault & false imprisonment J R Shepley Atty Filed Decr 28th 1846 Jn. Ruland Clk Hugh Gallagher Geo. W. Coons Witnesses Defendants' Plea of Not Guilty

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.

 Defendants' Plea of Not Guilty Ruland, John St. Louis Circuit Court St. Louis Circuit Court Gabriel suing for freedom vs. Andrew Christy Executor & Mary Coons Executrix of David Coons ,

And the said defeendants in their proper persons come & defend the force and injury when &c, and say that the said Gabriel was at the times when &c, & is now the slave of the said defendants without that that he was or is a free person in manner and form as in said declaration is alleged, & of this they put them selves upon the County &c.

Andrew Christy Mary Coons St. Louis Circuit Court Gabriel ( of color) vs. Andrew Christy , & Mary Coons executrix & executor of David Coons

plea

Filed Decr 28th. 1846 Jn. Ruland Clk Affidavit of George W. Coons and Hugh Gallagher

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.

 Affidavit of George W. Coons and Hugh Gallagher Shepley, J. B. Spalding Tiffany St. Louis Circuit Court

We the undersigned were present and witnesses to the agreement and promises made by the late David Coon to Gabriel McClelland which promise was that he the said Gabriel should have his free papers when he should repay the money advanced by David Cerrs to said McClellan to buy Gabriel from his former Walter McClelland. Gabriel himself had part of the purchase money and Mr David Coons lent him the balance taking as security a bill of sale for said Gabriel from his former master Mc Clelland and we know that he Gabriel is entitled to his free papers

signed by Geo W. Cerrs & Hugh Gallaghin Original in It is further admitted by the attorney for the plaintiff & defendants and thereby the foregoing statement of which the above is a copy is the testimony evidence in this cause and it is further permitted by the defendants that the plaintiff Gabriel has paid to the defendants as excutors the sum of seventy six dollars which was the balance due to the estate of David Cerris for the money ad vanecd by said David and they never said Gabriel as belonging to said Estate

Spalding & Tiffany for deft J B Shepley Atty for pltf