Betty, a woman of color, represents that Joseph York detains her as a slave. She informs the court that she lived with Alexander Eden in the Illinois Territory in 1806 or 1807 and that she lived there for more than sixty days and was "never indentured according to Law." Noting that Eden even declared "that she was free," the petitioner asserts that John Murdock "without Law or right" took her to Missouri. Betty asks that counsel be assigned to her "to prosecute her claim for freedom;" that she may have "reasonable liberty" to attend her counsel; that she not be removed from the county; and that she not be punished for filing a suit.
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed.
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Repository: Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri
