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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.
The petition of
Respectfully
at the present time held in slavery in the county
aforesaid by
Petitioner has good and
which she claims her right to freedom
that
state of
of labor and that afterwards
petitioner was sent to
hired out as a slave contrary to the laws
in case made and provided
Shall your petitioner has
been held in slavery in the
about twenty two years when infact
and in truth from the violation of the
laws of
petitioner all the twenty
was a free woman
Now therefore your
Petitioner prays your Honor to allow
her to
freedom so
as is duty bound she will ever pray
Personally appeared
Before the undersigned
that the Matters and things set
the above petition are
of her knowledge and belief
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 said defendant on the
September in the year Eighteen hundred
and forty four
County aforesaid, Beat Bruised injured and
ill treated her the said plaintiff and then
and there imprisoned her the said plaintiff
and kept and detained her in prison there
without any probable cause whatsoever
for a long space of time, to wit, twelve hours
then and there following, contrary to the laws
of the said State and against the will
of the said Plaintiff and the said plaintiff
further
before and at the time of the said grievances
was and still is a free person and that the
said defendant, held and still Holds the
said Plaintiff in slavery and other wrongs
to the said Plaintiff did the said defendant
then and there do contrary to the peace and
dignity of the State and to the damages
of the said Plaintiff of five hundred
dollars and therefore the said Plaintiff
brings suit &c
Petition filed leave to
vs
F. Steigers
Trespass
Application to Judge
to sue as a poor
State of
St. Louis County
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.
We command you to
he be found in your County, that he
be and appear
before the Judge of our
held at the
day of
imprisonment,
to the damage of said plaintiff
dollars: And have you then there this writ.
I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.
Witness my hand and seal, at
vs
Summons
It is ordered that said petition-
er have leave to sue as a poor
person & the court assigns E
petitioner it is further ordered
that said petitioner have reason
ble liberty to attend her counsel
& the Court as occasion may require
that she be not removed without
the juridiction of this court and
that she be not subjected to any
severity on account of her ap-
plication for freedom.
Executed this wit in the
by reading it and the declaration to Francis
Steigers, the defendant Also by reading to the
said Francis Steigers, the orders of the
Judge endorsed upon this wit
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
R. S. Blennerhassett his attorney comes & defends
the force & injury when &c
guilty of the said supposed trespasses above laid
to his charge or any or either of them or any
part thereof in manner & form as the said
plaintff hath above thereof complained against
him, & of this he the said defendant puts himself
upon the Country. &c
vs
Plea.
R. S. Blennerhafseth
Dfts. Atty
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.
You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our
in the forenoon of this day
testify and the truth to say in an certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein
plaintiff and Steiger is
defendant on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail
vs
sub for deft
L. L.
Executed Wn
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.
You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our
at the
testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein
plaintiff and
defendant on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail
vs
Steigers
sub
Executed