NathanNathan Dillon being sworn saith that he
is acquainted with MillyMilly , HarryHarry Dick ,DickHarry Dick , William, David Shipmen,
& an infant child of said MillyMilly not having as yet any name who,
are now in the jail of St Louis County and are claimed as slaves,
by one StephenStephen Smith ,SmithStephen Smith and are colored persons,: that
slaves came to County now set off into Farewell, County in IllinoisIllinois, some
time last fall in company with DavidDavid Shipman, their former master, and have
rended there ever since, untill Friday, the 4th of this present
month when they disappeared and this deponent has
since discovered that they were seized and carried away
by one StephenStephen Smith ,SmithStephen Smith , that this deponent saw said
SmithSmith , in said Farewell, County in January last &
heard conversations between him and said DavidDavid Shipman,
in which said SmithSmith , admitted that he had never
had possession of the black persons above but said
he had a mortgage on them: said Shipman offered
to come to an immediate settlement with him
and would endeavor, to pay what might turn out to be due and
said Shipman then and there told, said SmithSmith
that he SmithSmith knew that he Shipman had
property enough remaining in KentuckyKentucky, to pay
anything that might be due, him ; to which said
smith made no reply, nor
did he deny, that such was the fact, but said it was
the negros that he wanted. This deponent further saith
that said SmithSmith while at said PeoriaPeoria, (now) Farewell, County on that
occasion got possession of said negroes, and they were set
at large by some order or proceeding of the Circuit CourtCircuit Court said
SmithSmith then left that part of the Country, and as deponent
supposes went to KentuckyKentucky, and this deponent saw,
nothing of said SmithSmith until Tuesday the 8th instant, when
he found him in posssession of said slaves in the CityCity of St Louis
of St LouisCity of St Louis with several other persons apparently assisting him. This
deponent came in prusuit of said smith in conse,