July Term 1832
St. Louis County to wit Michael a boy of
color an infant who sues by permission of the
court by his next friend William Clark
complains of Henry . G Mitchel and Henry
C. Russel of a plea of trespass for that there
said Henry G . Mitchel and Henry C. Russel on the 22 day of
May in the year 1832 with force and arms
made an assault upon the said Michael
to wit at the county of St. Louis aforesaid and
then and there bruised beat and ill treated
the said Michael and then and there im
prisoned the said Michael and left and de
tained him in prison there without any
probable or honorable cause whatsoever for a long space of time to wit
for the space of twenty four hours then next
following contrary to law and against the will
of the said Michael and the said Michael avers
that before and at the time of the committing
of the said grievances he was and still is a
free person and that the defendants then held and detainedhim
and still hold him and detain him in slavery and other wrongs
to him the said Michael then and there did
against the law of the state and to him
damage of the plaintiff $500 and therefore he
brings his suit
County of Saint Louis Ss
The State of Missouri To the Sheriff of the County of Saint Louis Greeting
We command you to summon Henry G Mitchell and Henry C
Russell that they 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 Michael a boy of color an infant who
sues by permission of the Court by his next friend William Clark of a
plea of trespass to the damage of the sued plaintiff five hundred
dollars and have you then there this writ
Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our
Said Circuit Court at Office this Twenty
eighth day of May one thousand Eight
Hundred and Thirty two Archibald Gamble Clerk
Copy of the order of the Judge permitting plaintiff to institute suit
The above Petitioners are allowed to institute a suit on the foregoing petition
to establish their right to freedom & the Clerk of the Circuit Court for St.
Louis County is hereby directed to issue a writ according to the Statute in
such case made & provided - it is also ordered that the said petitioners be not
subject to any severity on account of their application for freedom that
they have reasonable liberty of attending their counsel & the Court whenever
occasion may require and that they be not removed out of the Jurisdiction
of the Court
Given under my hand as Judge of the third Judicial Circuit
State of Missouri at Chambers their 23. May 1832 Will C. Carr
A True Copy of the Order
A Gamble Clerk
Served this writ on Henry C Russell
on the 28 May 1832 in the city of St Louis
by reading the writ & offering to Read the
declaration to him which he refused
to hear read. I also at the offered
to read to him the copy of the order of the
Judge permitting the plaintiff to institute
suit - & ordering that he shall not be removed
out of the jurisdiction of the
said court & c.
John K Walker
Henry G Mitchell not formed
in my County
Jno K Walker sheriff
No 56
Saint Louis Circuit Court
July Term 1832
Michael aboyof
color
vs
Henry G Mitchel &
Henry G.Russel
This is an action of
assault & battery and
false imprisonment
damages & 500 the clerk
will issue
pq
No 56
St Louis Circuit Court
July Term 1832
Michael
vs
Henry G Mitchell
Henry C Russel
order for
servingsuit
State of Missouri
St Louis ss
The petitioner Michael a
boy of color havingbeen this day
brought before me the judge of the circuit
court of St Louis county by writ of habeas
corpus and the persons inwhosepossession
the said Michael was found having
refused to enterintorecognizance as required
by law in that behalf. I do therefore order
and direct the sheriff of St Louis
county to take possession of the said
Michael and hirehim out from time
to time during the pending of the
petitioners suit for freedom and that the
sheriff take for the person or per
sons who shall hire the said petitioner
in the sum of six hundred dollars
withsuch security as the sheriff shall that the said
shall at all times during the pending
of said suit havereasonable liberty of attending
his counsel and the court and that
the said Michael shall not be removed
out of the jurisdiction of the circuit
court of St Louis county or subjected to
any severity because of his application
for freedom and that the personorpersons
forcing said Michael shall pay the hire
at the time stipulated and return the
said Michael to said sheriff at
the expiration of the time for which
he is hired or sooner if the action shall
sooner be determined
Given under my hand this
30th May 1832 Will .C. Carr
ads
Michael
And the said defendants
by their attorney come and defend the force
and injury when & and say they are not
Guilty of the grievances above in said declaration
laid to their charge in manner and
form as the said plaintiff hath above alledged
and of this they put themselves upon the
country & c.
Foremanatty
Filed 26th July 1832 Archibald gamble clerk
sub & Judge Book - 6 - page 492
No 56
Saint Louis Circuit Court
July Term 1832
Michael
vs
Henry G Mitchell &
Henry C Russell
Plea not guilty
ForemanFiled 26th July 1832 Archibald Gamble Clerk