Michael Edwards, "a coloured lad," claims that J. J. Birdsong illegally detains him in slavery. Edwards informs the court that he was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and insists that "he has never done any thing whereby he has forfeited his freedom." Nonetheless, he reveals that Birdsong "has and does still detain him the said Edwards in custody against Law & right and against his will in the Common Jail of the County of St. Louis and with the intent and purpose as he ... believes, of conveying him out of this State, in order that he may sell him in some one of the more Southern states." The petitioner therefore prays that he "be allowed to sue as a poor person for the purpose of establishing his freedom." He further requests that counsel be assigned to him; that Birdsong be prevented from moving him out of the state; and that he not be "subject to any severity because of his application for freedom."
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
