State of Missouri
County of St. Louis
ss
In the St. Louis Circuit Court July Term 1842

Smith , a boy of Color by his attorneys and
by leave of the Court according to the statute in
such case provided, complains of James G .
of a plea of trespass for false imprisonment for
that whereas the said defendant heretofore to wit, on the first day of March in the year eighteen hundred forty two with force and arms at the County aforesaid, of south upon him the said plaintiff and then and there heart, bruised
and illtreated the said plaintiff and then
and there imprisoned the said plaintiff and
then and there kept and detained the said plaintiff in prison, fromthat time until the present
against the will of the said plaintiff and
other wrongs is the said plaintiff then and there
did contrary to law and against the peace
of the state. And the said plaintiff avers that
before and at the time of the committinglike
grievances aforesaid he was and still is
a free person and that the said defendant held
and shall holds him the said plaintiff in slavery
wherefore thoseaid plaintiff so that he hoth been injured and hoth sustained damage
in the sum of fine hundred and
therefore he brings his suit

Gamble & WalkerAttys for Pltff.

Smith a boy of Colour vs James O Fraser is and now
at this day comes said defendant by his attorney
and defends the force & injury when & say
that he is not guilty of the said supposedgrive= or any of them in manner or form as
said plaintiff hath above thereof complained against him & of this he finds himself upon
the country

T. Polk P.D.

No. 108 St Louis Circuit Court
July Jerm 1842

Smith (a person of (Color)
vs
James O. Fraser

Declaration in trespass
for false imprisonment&
suit for Freedom
Dams & 500
filed by consent
Gamble & Walker
Attys for plff
Plea not guilty T. Polk P.D.

Filed July 29th 1842 J Ruland clerk

Judgment of freedom December 21.1846.17p 442