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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 plaintiff
"
longed to and was the property of the said
That the said
by his last will and testament, in writing duly
executed, and
not being in the possession or
will be
or
plaintiff and did will that he
effect and be
the death of Morris James and
or as soon thereafter as this plaintiff should
have
services, in the meantime, during the life of
to them
Plaintiff further states that said
viz
on the day of
that this plaintiff has
age of twenty one years,
day of
Plaintiff further states that he is
and unlawfully held as a slave by the defen
dants, but in right and justice he is a free
man, Wherefore he
liberation against said defendants and for
costs by Atty
on his oath says that the foregoing petition and
the matters therein as stated he
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.
Now comes the plaintiff
and files a petition for
freedom and also an
application for leave to
sue as a poor person, and
it appearing to the satisfaction
of the Court that the
petition contain sufficient
matter to authorize the
commencement of a suit,
it is ordered that the said
plaintiff be allowed to sue as a poor person, and that
he have reasonable liberty to attend his counsel and
the Court, as occasion may require, and that he be
not removed out of the jurisdiction of this Court and
be not subject to any severity on account of this
application for freedom.
A true copy of said order,
State of
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.
v
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.
Your petitioner
called
the last will of
County in the year
of
and mother of said
as he (
of twenty one years. That said
that he has long since attained the age of twenty
one years, but not withstanding these facts
he is still restrained of his liberty and wrongfully held
as a slave by John Blackburn,
Blackburn, & Rufus
He therefore prays the
grant to him
order to establish his right to freedom, and also
to make an order upon the said John.
Charles and
have reasonable liberty to attend his Counsel
he be not removed out of the jurisdiction of this
Court, and that he be not subjected
severity on account of his application for freedom
according to the form of the statute in
such case made and provided
oath says that the foregoing petition and the facts
therein as stated he believes
uis
freedom
Bates & Woodson
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 Summon
Charles A
and
of the said
Rufus C.
to appear
before the Judge of our
held in the
complaint of
called "
as set forth in the annexed petition : and have you then and there this writ.
I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the case of
against
Witness my hand and seal, at
Leave to sue in forma
Dismissed as to
for
color) commonly called
"
vs
Summons
burn,
said
&
—
Executed this writ in the
writ and
writ in the
June 1859
furnished the Clerk to each of
named persons
A
defendants.
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.
vs
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.
v
answer of
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 defendant
as the curator of the estates of
and
alone says, He admits that he has at one time
been the
Charles and
appointment of the
on or about the day of
But he says that he is not now such
that the said Martha Charles &
to the age of fourteen years, on the day
of
his stead the defendant John
and the said John was accordingly appointed by
the
same, And that this defendant has accounted
with the said
ing in this defendants hands of the said
Martha, Charles, &
the rest the petitioner
He denies that he holds or
the petitioner unlawfully as a slave, he
had any other
as aforesaid, under and by
Sheriff of the said
With regard to the other statements in
the petition, this defendant says that he has
not sufficient knowledge or information, either
And now having fully answered he
prays to be
on his oath says that the foregoing answer and
the matters therein as stated he
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 defendants John L Blackburn and
defendants Martha A Blackburn
burn, and
curator of their estates duly appointed and qual
ified,
State, that the defendant
Martha, Charles &
but they say that the defendant John
burn is curator of the estates of the said defendants,
of St Louis County, made on the day of
1858
in the petition stated are true and pray & authorize the
of facts renders lawful and right-
John T
answer and the matters therein as stated he
be true-
affidavit
John T. Blackburn for himself as well as for the instant defendants, for whom he
is
says that the foregoing answer and the matters therein
to be true-
v
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.
Now
& for
in this cause
vs
et al
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.
Judgement of
plaintiff on answer of Defts
and proofs against all the defendants except