John MerryJohn Merry a freeman of Colour who is
permitted by the Court to sue as a poor person, by his
Attorney J Charles assigned as counsel by the Court
complains, of Clayton TiffinClayton Tiffin and Louis MenardMenard of a
plea of trespass. For that the said defendants heretofore
to writ on the twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six with force and arms at the City of St. LouisCity of St Louis unlawfully
an assault did make upon the body of said John and
then and there did beat bruise and ill treat him said John
and then and there imprisoned him said John and kept and
detained him in prison without any reasonable or probable
cause whatsoever against the will of said John and have
ever since kept and detained him said John in prison
and stillkeeps and detains him in prison against his
will without any reasonable or probable cause whatso
ever contrary to the laws of this state, and the said defendant
other wrongs then and there did to him said John
against the peace and dignity of the state

Wherefore the said John says he is injured, by said
defendants, and hath sustained damages to the amount
of six hundred dollars and therefore he sues