I could not credit any thing he would say
even on oath, the cost account I had of
him he was editing a paper called the Free
Press in the city of St LouisSt Louis state of MissouriMissouri

question for same were you or not acquainted with the
negro boy RalphRalph the plaintiff in this suit if so
state and whether he was hired by JohnJohn Gordon GordonJohn Gordon or any
other person in the state of IllinoisIllinois in the year
1816 17 or 18 and what your opportunity of knowing
whether he was or not and had the opportunity
that AbnerAbner Martin MartinAbner Martin Jr. had of knowing these
things

Answer I was well acquainted with the
boy RalphRalph he belonged to my Father at
the dates you mention I do not believe my
father ever hired him in the state of IllinoisIllinois
though he permitted him to hire
himself there but at what time I cannot
state, The father of AbnerAbner Martin MartinAbner Martin Jr.moved
to this county from Union county KentuckyKentucky
in 1817 or 18 at that time AbnerAbner Martin MartinAbner Martin Jr.
was not more than eight or nine years of age
and further this deponent saith not