To the Honorable the Judge of the Circuit CourtCircuit Court
within and for the County of St LouisCounty of St Louis
Your Petitioner MichelMichael a Man of Color respectfully
Sheweth that he is by birth entitled to his freedom by
being born of a negress Named RoseRose who was born
in MontrealMontreal CanadaCanada. That in the year seventeen
and ninety one or there abouts, the said RoseRose was
removedfrom CanadaCanada by a certain John Storke an Indian
trader to his trading post at PrairiePrairie du ChienChien , in the
Northwestern Territory of the United StatesUnited States, west of the
river OhioOhio and was there detained by the said John
Storke, as his slave until the death of said Storke which
took place abut the Year 1793 or 4. That he is informed
that after the death of said Storke as aforesaid She was
brought down to St LouisSt Louis by a Certain AndrewAndrew ToddTodd
a trader who sold her as a slave to a Certain
DidierDidier the Curate of the Parish Contrary to the provision
of an Ordinance of the Congress of the United StatesUnited States
entitled an Ordinance for the government of the
Territory Northwest of the River OhioOhio passed July 13th 1787. That she remained in the possession of said DidierDidier
as his slave and was afterwards sold by said DidierDidier
as his slave aforesaid to one AugusteAugust Chouteau ChouteauAugust Chouteau
since decreased. Your Petitioner of states that after
the death of said ChouteauChouteau at a sale of the
personal Estate of said ChouteauChouteau , he was did for
and adjudicated to one GabrielGabriel Paul PaulGabriel Paul by whom he has
been and now is held as a slave. Wherefore he
prays that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person
for the obtaining of his freedom, and that Your honor
will make an order that he have reasonable liberty
to attend his Counsel and the Court and that he shall not
be subjected to any severity on account of his application for
freedom, nor be removed out of the jurisdiction of the Court

The Petitioner has leave to establish his right to freedom
he is permitted to sue as a poor person. J McKimDuncanDuncan
is assigned to him as Counsel

It is ordered by the Court that he have reasonable liberty to
attend his Counsel and the Court, as occasion may require, and that
he shall not be removed out
of the jurisdiction of the court, nor
be subjected to any severity on account of his application for
freedom

MichelMichael
vs
Gabriel PaulGabriel Paul
Petition for freedom

Michel PaulMichel Paul comp plaintiff complains
of GabrielGabriel Paul PaulGabriel Paul defendant of a plea of trespass,
For that the said defendant on the first day of May A.D. 1843 to wit at the county aforesaid,
with force & arms & made an assault upon
the said plaintiff & then & there beat bruised
ill treated him, & then & there imprisoned
him & detained him in prison there with
out any reasonable or probable cause what
soever for a long time to wit for the space of
ten hours then next following contrary
to the laws of the State and against the
will of the said plaintiff, avers that he the
And the said
plaintiff avers that he the said plaintiff, before
and at the time of the committing of the
grievances, was and still is a free person &
that the defendant held & still holds him in slavery
to wit at the county aforesaid

And other wrongs to the said plaintiff then &
there did against the peace and dignity of
the State and to the damage of the said
plaintiff of six hundred dollars and therefore
he brings his suit, & C

MichelMichel Paul PaulMichel Paul
vs
GabrielGabriel Paul PaulGabriel Paul

Declaration in a Trespass
Damages $ 600 00/100

We command you to Summon, Gabriel PaulGabriel Paul
if he be found in your County, that he
be and appear
before the Judge of our Circuit CourtCircuit Court , on the first day of the next term thereof, to
be held at the City of St. LouisCity of St Louis, within and for the county of St. LouisSt Louis, on the
third Monday of April next, then and there to answer unto
Michel PaulMichel Paul of a plea of trespass in the case

to the damage of said plaintiff six hundred
dollars: And have you then there this writ.

I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accure in the above cause.

Witness my hand and seal, at St. LouisSt Louis this day of 184

Suit abated at costs of plff March 3d 184516 p 67 same set aside & cause
reinstate for trial & Costs 16 p 85

Michel PaulMichel Paul
vs
Gabriel PaulGabriel Paul
Summons

Trespass
Damages $ 600

Duncan & Cobb P.q.

Gabriel PaulGabriel Paul not found in my
County