Jonathan and Gilbert Duncan, men of color, charge that Coleman Duncan seized Gilbert and held him as a slave. They further contend that Coleman offered to sell Gilbert to Jonathan and "threatened that if Said Jonathan would not purchase Said Gilbert to take said Gilbert to Some other place & sell him as a Slave." Believing that Coleman had a title to Gilbert, Jonathan admits that he agreed to give Coleman one hundred dollars in advance; he and Gilbert then signed a promissory note for an additional three hundred dollars. In addition, Jonathan executed a "Deed of emancipation for Said Gilbert which Deed of emancipation it was Suggested Said Jonathan should keep untill the said sum of $400 should be paid by Gilbert," who agreed to "earn the money ... by his labor." The petitioners argue that Gilbert was entitled to his freedom long before these transactions were made. They assert that Coleman falsely imprisoned Gilbert and held him as a slave and that Edward Tracy and Charles Wahrendorff now hold the bond for $300. The petitioners seek an injunction preventing Tracy and Wahrendorff from suing them for payment and that "Said Bond may be delivered up & cancelled."
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
