{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"21183213","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/21183213","state":"Missouri","county":"St. Louis","location_type":"County","file_date_circa":"y","file_day":20,"file_month":7,"file_year":1832,"filing_court":"Circuit","end_day":21,"end_month":7,"end_year":1832,"ending_court":"Circuit","result":"petition granted; plea of trespass filed, death of plaintiff suggested and suit abates","enslaved_count":10,"fpoc_count":2,"total_people_count":18,"repository":"Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri","abstract":"Mahala, a woman of color, attests that she was born in the state of Illinois and has been free since her birth.  She further avers that her mother, also a free woman of color, was hired by the late Elisha Mitchel [Mitchell].  The petitioner informs the court that Martin Mitchel, who claims to be the executor of Elijah Mitchell's estate, has had her arrested as a runaway slave belonging to the estate.  She therefore prays that she be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom and that counsel be appointed for her.  Fearing that Mitchel will try to remove her to thwart her suit, Mahala also requests a writ of habeas corpus and asks the court to compel Mitchel to give bond not to remove her from the court's jurisdiction until her suit is settled.","subjects":[{"subject":"Sues for freedom (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Westward migration"},{"subject":"Jails\/Workhouses"},{"subject":"Skills (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Freedom seekers"},{"subject":"Assault"},{"subject":"Kidnapping (FPOC)"}]}]}