The petition of Mary Farnham , aged about 21 or 22 years of age respectfully represents: That she was born in Ste Genevive , in this state in the family of one John B . Bossier, and that she was held as a slave by him until some time in 1830 — when she was brought to St. Louis by said Bossier, and sold as a slave to one Russel Farnham, who held her as slave in his own family in St. Louis , & that said Farnham shortly after buying her moved with his family to the Lower Rapids on the Mississippi River , where he resided & where your petitioner was held as a slave, in his family and at fort Edwards for more than from the fall of 1831 until about the fall of 1832 Your Petitioner is informed and believes that having been held as a slave at those places in beyond the northern boundary of the state of Missouri & the other, in the state of Illinois with said Farnham , who had his permanent residence there then, she is now entitled to her freedom. Your petitioner states that said Farnham came to St Louis and did here in october 1832. That since said Farnham's death she has been sold as a slave by P. Chouteau Jr , as administrator of said Farnham to one Randolph in St. Louis ; who sold your petitioner, as a slave to one Samuel D. Walker, who now holds your petitioner as a slave in St. Louis , said Walker , being a resident of Louisiana , & having recently Come to St. Louis ; Your petition-er therefore, prays your honor to be permitted to institute a suit as provided for by law, & that your petitioner be permitted to sue as a poor person; &c & as in duty bound your petitioner will ever pray ‖c.

Mary Farnham being duly Sworn upon her oath States that the facts stated in the foregoing petition are true to the best of her Knowledge & belief

John F. Darby being duly sworn upon his oath, states that he believes the facts stated in the foregoing petition of mary Farnham are true-avers as he is informed said mary Farnham is permitted by the persons claming her is a slave, from comand & swearing to the affidavit said above written

I L. E. Lawless , Judge of the third Judicial circuit do hereby order that said petitioner mary Farnham , be permitted to institute a suit to establish her right to freedom against Samuel D. Walker & that she be permitted to sue as a poor person, and as I assign her as Counsel — to conduct & manage said suit - St Louis May 1835 and it is further ordered, that the petitioner have reasonable liberty to attend her counsel and the Court whoen occasion may require; and that the petitioner shall not be taken or removed out of the jurisdiction of the court, nor be subject to any severity because of her application for freedom.

Mary Farnham , who is permitted to sue as a poor person, by Darby her attorney Com-plains of Samuel . D. Walker, of a plea of trespass

For that whereas, heretofore to wit, on the twenty third day of may in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty five said defendant at the county aforesaid with force and arms made an assault upon the said defendant at St. Louis in in the county aforesaid there and then beat bruised and illtreated said plaintiff, and then and there imprisoned the said plaintiff, and kept and detained her in prison, there, without any reasonable or probable cause whatsoever for a long space of time, to wit for the space of two days, there next following, contrary to the laws of the land, and against her will, and the said plaintiff avers, that before and at the time of the committing the grievances she was and still is a free person, and that the defendant held and detained her & still holds and detains her, in slavery. To the damage of said plaintiff of Eight Hundred Dollars.

We command you to summon Samuel D Walker that he be and appear before the Judge of our Circuit Court at the next July Term thereof to be held at the city of St Louis within and for the county of Saint Louis on the fourth monday of July next then and there to answer unto mary Farnham who is permitted to sue as a poor person of a plea of Trespass To the damage of said plaintiff of Eight Hundred dollars and have you then there this writ