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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
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.
that he was
county of
and that by the laws of
being free it his birth he was
is now
in the said county of
to
your petitioner to
Bard for that
petitioner in slavery your petitioner therefore
his right to freedom and that your
shall
to
said
This day the petitioner personally offers
before word being first duly sworn and much
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.
The within named petitioner is
sue as a poor person, for the purpose
of establishing his freedom, and
I do hereby
and that the petitioner have reasonable liberty
to attend Counsel and the Court, that he be
not removed out of the
Court and that he be not subject to any
severity on account of his application for
freedom
vs
Petitioner for
right to freedom
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.
St Louis County to wit
plains of
For that the said
sand eight hundred and thirty seven
and arms made an assault upon the said
then and there
am Stubs and
there without any reasonable
for a long space of
of three months the cost following contrary to the
laws of that state and against the will of the
said
is a
Bard held and still holds him in slavery and
other wrongs to
and then did against the peace of this state
and to the damage of the said
``The within named petitioner is allowed to sue as a poor person of establishing his freedom, and I do hereby asign
removed out of the
dom.
We command you to summon
before our Honorable
at the city of
then and there to answer unto
said plaintiff of one thousand dollars, and have you then there this writ.
Excuted this writ on the
& declaration to
hear them read and acknowledged the service thereof
vs
This is an
not bought by
of the judge to establish
right to freedom the
clerk will
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.
And the said defendant by
comes and defends the force and injury when
is not guilty of the said supposed wrongs and injuries
above laid to his charge in manner and form as the said
plaintiff hath above thereof complained against him
and of this he puts himself upon the country
And for further plea in this behalf the said defendant
says that the said plaintiff ought not to have or main
tain his aforesaid action against him because he says
that at the time of the committing of the
was a slave without that that at the said time the
said plaintiff was a free person as he has in his said
declaration alledged and this the said defendant is ready
to verify wherefore he prays judgment &
vs
pleas
Not guilty
Pleas with
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.
The petition of
your
out of the
petitioners would further state that since their
suits for freedom has been
they have been removed out of the
of this Court and they verily believe that they
will be again removed
of your
will interfere and lend the
for their
pray that they may be brought before
your
by the laws of the state and as in
duty bound they will ever, pray
Lewis
vs Petition