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Title: Irene Emerson vs. Dred Scott (of color)
Plaintiff: Emerson, Irene
Defendant: Scott, DredScott, Harriet
Date Filed:
Term: March Term 1848
Cause of Action: Writ of Error
Case Number:
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Publication Info: St. Louis, Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis, University Libraries 2011
Source: The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Availability: Documents are in the public domain

PRINTED AND SOLD AT THE NEW ERA OFFICE 28 ½ MAIN STREET. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dred ScottDred Scott ) versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) IN THE ------------------- ) . Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court Take Notice, That on the tenth---------------- day of May, 1847, between the hours of 8 o’clock in the forenoon, and 6 o’clock in the afternoon of that day, at the dwelling house of , Number No . 90 Myrtle StreetMyrtle Street, in the ,------------------------ ---------------, --------------------, depositions will be taken to be read on the trial of the above entitled cases on behalf of the plaintiff; and that the taking of said depositions, if not completed on that day, will be continued from day, to day at the same place, and between the same hours, until completed. To the above named defendant ) C.D DrakeD. Drake, ) Attorney Atty for Plaintiffs Pltffs . I acknowledge service of a copy of the within notice in the , this 10th day of May, 1847. PRINTED AND SOLD AT THE NEW ERA OFFICE 28 ½ MAIN STREET. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HarrietHarriet (of color) ) versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) IN THE ------------------- ) . Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court Take Notice, That on the tenth---------------- day of May, 1847, between the hours of 8 o’clock in the forenoon, and 6 o’clock in the afternoon of that day, at the dwelling house of , Number No . 90 Myrtle StreetMyrtle Street, in the ,------------------------ ---------------, --------------------, depositions will be taken to be read on the trial of the above entitled cases on behalf of the plaintiff; and that the taking of said depositions, if not completed on that day, will be continued from day, to day at the same place, and between the same hours, until completed. To the above named defendant ) C.D DrakeD. Drake, ) Attorney Atty for Plaintiffs Pltffs . I acknowledge service of a copy of the within notice in the , this 10th day of May, 1847. PRINTED AND SOLD AT THE NEW ERA OFFICE 28 ½ MAIN STREET. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dred ScottDred Scott ) versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) IN THE ------------------- ) . Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court HarrietHarriet (of Color) ) versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) Take Notice, That on the fourteenth thirteenth_____day of May-------- 1847, between the hours of 8 o’clock in the forenoon, and 6 o’clock in the afternoon of that day, at the office of Charles D. Drake,--------------------------- in the ,------------------------ ---------------, --------------------, depositions will be taken to be read on the trial of the above entitled cases on behalf of the plaintiffs; and that the taking of said depositions, if not completed on that day, will be continued from day, to day at the same place, and between the same hours, until completed. To the above named defendant ) C.D DrakeD. Drake, ) Attorney Atty for Plaintiffs Pltffs . Dred ScottDred Scott versus vs . Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ------------------ HarrietHarriet (of Color) versus vs . Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ------------------- I acknowledge service of a copy of the within notice in the , this 10th day of May, 1847.

DEPOSITIONS of witnesses, produced, sworn, and examined, at the dwelling house of , Number No . 90 Myrtle StreetMyrtle Street in the City and County of ; , before me, , Law Commissioner for the said County, in a certain cause now pending in the Circuit CourtSaint Louis Circuit Court in the , between Dred ScottDred Scott, plaintiff, and Irene EmersonIrene Emerson, defendant, on the part of the Plaintiff C---- of the , of lawful age, being duly sworn and examined on the part of the Plaintiff deposeth and saith:---

I know Dred ScottDred Scott, Plaintiff in the above case. During the years1837 and 1838, I knew him as a Slave. at , at the mouth of . on the west side of the . within the Territorial limits of the . Said ScottScott at this time was held as a slave by a Doctor EmersonEmerson, a Surgeon in the United StatesUnited States Army, who was then posted at . I knew the Plaintiff to be held for only one year by Said EmersonEmerson, as a Slave. During that time Said EmersonEmerson exercised control over, and used Plaintiff entirely as a Slave. Since that time I have only seen Plaintiff occasionally. I know HarrietHarriet, the wife of Plaintiff Plaint Said Dred ScottDred Scott. X I first knew her at . She too was a Slave of Doctor EmersonEmerson at the Same time that I knew DredDred. there. This woman, in the year 1837 was hired to me as a servant by Doctor EmersonEmerson, and was in my family some two or three months. I knew Said woman for the same length of time that I did ^ Dred. During that whole time She was held in Slavery by Doctor EmersonEmerson. When I went to to live, I found Doctor EmersonEmerson posted there. How long he had been there I do not know. Doctor EmersonEmerson. left , in the fall of 1837, but left these slaves there. hire out. They remained there until April 1838, when they left for the South, - for . I think. During the whole time that I knew them at they were held in Slavery by Doctor EmersonEmerson, or by persons to whom they were hired by him. They were universally known there to be Doctor Emersons Slaves. At the time that I was at my name was ThompsonThompson. I was then the wife of , X a LieutenantLieutenant in the army of the . The Plaintiffs in these cases are now in St LouisSt. Louis; and I have been informed and believe, are at W. SamuelSamuel Russell’s. I went to in the latter part of May, or first of June, 1837. and left in May, 1838.

e------------

I, Jno. H. Watson, "The Law Commissioner of St LouisSaint Louis County", in the , do hereby certify that , the deponent, whose place of residence is the , in the , was by me Sworn to testify the whole truth of her knowledge, touching the matter in [illegible] in the Cause aforesaid; that deponent was examin [ed] , and her examination reduced to writing by me, and Inscribed by Said deponent in my presence, on the tenth day of May A.D. 1847, between the hours of 8 o’clock in the forenoon and 6 o’clock in the afternoon, at the residence of , number No. 90 Myrtle StreetMyrtle Street, in the , in the .

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Inscribed my name and affixed my official seal, on this tenth day of May, A.D. 1847.

Jno. H. Watson.
Opened & filed May My 11th 1847 John RulandJno. Ruland clerk X Deposition Dred ScottDred Scott. versus vs. Irene EmersonIrene Emerson. ----------------------- Commissioner Leer[?] Fee $1.50. Paid by Dred ScottDred Scott Attorney Atty. for Plaintiff.

Depositions of witnesses, produced, sworn, and examined at the office of Charles D. Drake, in the , & , before me, the undersigned, , a justice of the peace within & for the aforesaid, in two certain causes now pending in the Circuit CourtCircuit Court, within & for the said , , in one of which causes Dred ScottDred Scott is plaintiff and Irene EmersonIrene Emerson is defendant, and in the other of said causes HarrietHarriet (of color) is plaintiff & the said Irene EmersonIrene Emerson is defendant, on the part of the plaintiffs.

c x of lawful age, being produced, sworn & examined on the part of the plaintiffs, deposes & says:— I know the negro man named DredDred, who is the plaintiff in this suit. I first knew DredDred some time in the year 1834 , at , Illino in the . He was then a servant belonging to Doctor EmersonEmerson, who was there an Assistant Surgeon in the Army of the United StatesUnited States, and was stationed at . He was held in service there by Doctor EmersonEmerson as a slave from the time I first knew him, until April or May 1836. At that time, was evacu ^ ated by the troops, to which was attached, and the troops with Doctor EmersonEmerson went from to , which is situated at the junction of the with the , on the west side of the MississippiMississippi, within the Territorial limits of the and North of the . From the time the troops arrived at until the 7th day of July 1837. I knew DredDred to be held by Doctor EmersonEmerson, as a slave, at . At the last mentioned date I left that place. During all the time I knew DredDred at

and , he was claimed by Doctor EmersonEmerson as a slave and used by him as such. During the time I have mentioned, I was in the Army of the United StatesUnited States, and attached to the same troops, to which Doctor EmersonEmerson was attached.

I am now Second LieutenantLieutenant in ’s Company of Volunteers known as the "MissouriMissouri Guards," raised for service in , and expect, probably some time next week the Company will leave for its destination. Further he saith not.

X
MissouriState of Missouri )

) [illegible abbreviation] I. , a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that , the above named deponent was by me sworn to testify the whole truth of his knowledge, touching the matter in controversy in the causes aforesaid; And that his deposition was reduced to writing and subscribed by him in my presence, on the thirteenth day of May, 1847, between the hours of eight o’clock in the forenoon And Six o’clock in the afternoon, at the Office of Charles D. Drake in the , in the and .

Given under my hand May 13th 1847. Justice of the Peace Fee $ 1.00 paid pd . by Dred ScottDred Scott, plaintiff plff .
Opened & filed on May 13th. 1847 John RulandJno. Ruland Clerk. 2 Dred ScottDred Scott versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson -------------------- HarrietHarriet of Color versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson -------------------- Depositions for plaintiff
SS . ,

To . U.S.A.

GREETING: You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear be- fore our Circuit CourtCircuit Court for the county aforesaid, on the 30th day of June, inst [?] at the City of St LouisCity of St. Louis, then and there to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court, wherein Dred ScottDred Scott is plaintiff and Irene EmersonIrene Emerson is defendant on the part of plaintiff and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, , Clerk of our said Court, with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St LouisCity of St. Louis, this 24th — day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hunccrd and forty- seven

John RulandJno. Ruland Clerk Circuit CourtCircuit Court C.C.
30 Circuit CourtCircuit Court ----------------------------------- Dred ScottDred Scott versus vs. Emmerson ----------------------------------- Witneses Witnesses for plaintiff X 30 || X 29 X 30 X 28 X 28 ||

Executed June 30th 1847 by reading Thos. O Flaherty ThomasThos. Gray & (M H Clark & not found

Sheriff By Geo N. Stevens Deputy Depty Fee $2.70
SS . , To (at Whittermores first door above the bank of MissouriMissouri Mo on same side) StuartStuart Carter at Pay masters office on 5th Street St GREETING: You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear be- fore our Circuit CourtCircuit Court for the county aforesaid, on the forthwith-------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------at the City of St LouisCity of St. Louis, then and there to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court, wherein Dred ScottDred Scott is----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- plaintiff and Irene EmersonIrene Emerson---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- defendant on the part of plaintiff plff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, , Clerk of our said Court, with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St LouisCity of St. Louis, this 26 — day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hunccrd and forty- 7

John RulandJno. Ruland Clerk Circuit CourtCircuit Court C.C.
ScottScott versus vs. Emmerson forthwith — X X Executed June 30th 1847 by reading Sheriff By Geo N. Stevens Deputy Depty Fee $1.00 1020 50 25 30 ------------ $11.25 420 50 25 30 --------------- 5.25
SS . , To GREETING: You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear be- fore our Circuit CourtCircuit Court for the county aforesaid, on the forthwith-------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------at the City of St LouisCity of St. Louis, then and there to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court, wherein Dred ScottDred Scott is----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- plaintiff and IreneIrene Emmerson is---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- defendant on the part of the defendant. and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, , Clerk of our said Court, with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St LouisCity of St. Louis, this 30th — day of June ^ in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hunccrd and forty- seven

John RulandJno. Ruland Clerk Circuit CourtCircuit Court C.C.
ScottScott ) versus vs. ) [ Subpoena Spa ] ) Emmerson ===================== Executed by reading June 30th 1847 Sheriff Shff By Deputy Service 50 cts
Dred ScottDred Scott ) In . Court versus vs . ) April Term 1847 IreneIrene Emmerson) ) Harriet Scott ) versus vs . ) IreneIrene Emmerson )

Now at this day comes the plaintiffs in the above causes and moves the Court to set aside the verdict [rendered] in their cause for the following reasons

1 Because said verdict is against [law] the evidence 2 Because said verdict is against law & evidence 3 Because the verdict is against the weight of evidence, S M Bay attorney atty for plaintiffs
X ScottScott versus vs . EmersonEmerson Motion Mo for new trial Filed June 30. 1847 John John RulandJno . John RulandRuland clerk
Dred ScottDred Scott ) versus vs . ) In . Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) April Term 1847 HarrietHarriet (of color) ) vs. ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson )

Now at this day comes the said plaintiffs & [illegible] additional reasons for moves the Court to set aside the verdict rendered herein & grant a new trials in the above entitled Causes for the for the follow reason, in addition to the reasons mentioned in the motion here before filed to wit; Because the said plaintiffs were suprised by the ^ testimony evidence of the witness RussellRussell who testified in ther Cause.

S M Bay attorney atty for plaintiffs plffs
X additional Reasons for new trial Filed July 1st. 1847 John RulandJno. Ruland clerk
Dred ScottDred Scott ) versus vs . ) Irene EmersonIrene Emerson )

Dred ScottDred Scott, the plaintiff in this Cause in Support of his motion for a new trial [,] States upon oath. That he was Surprised in the testimony of the witness , by whom he expected to move that he, this affiant, was hired as a Salon by Said RussellRussell from the defendant, previous to the Commencement of this Suit, & that Said RussellRussell Paid to Said defendant money for the hire of this affiant as a X Slave, and that he did not know previous to, or as [illegible] the trial of Said Cause that he could ^prove X Said facts, or Could prove that he was claimed as a Slave or held in Slavery by Said defendant, by any other person than Said RussellRussell, and therefore relied solely upon the testimony of Said RussellRussell to prove Such facts as now necessary to maintain Said Suit of which Said defendant, is the person holding this affiant in Slavery. X This affiant in support of this affidavit makes an exhibit of a certain letter adccrssed to Said RussellRussell by J.R. Lackland one of the Counsel of this affiant & the answer of Said RussellRussell to the Said letter —from which it will appear, that previous to Said trial Said RussellRussell informed Said Lackland that he Said RussellRussell hired this affiant in March 1846.

from the defendant & that he Said RussellRussell Paid the Said hire of this affiant to Said defendant.

This affiant further states that relying solely upon the testimony of Said RussellRussell to prove these facts & knowing no other person by whom he could prove the same facts, or other facts tending to the Same [ends] , he went into trial. When to his Surprise Said RussellRussell testifyed in effect that he did not hire this affiant from X Said defendant, nor did he pay Said hire to Said defendant, for that his Knowledge of such facts was solely derived from the information of his Wife. This affiant thus taken by surprise in the testimony of Said RussellRussell[,] was unable to establish Said facts to the Satisfaction of the Jury, for which reason, he supposes, a verdict was rendered against him.

This affiant states that previous to said trial he had no knowledge that the Wife of Said RussellRussell had any knowledge that this affiant was held in Slavery by Said defendant but that if a new trial is granted to him he expects to prove by the testimony of the Wife of Said RussellRussell that Said defendant, previous to the Commencement of Said Suit hired this affiant to the Wife of Said RussellRussell,

acting as the agent of her Said husband, and that her acts in this ocassion were ratifyed & approved by her Said husband & that Said defendant Claimed this affiant as her Slave.

This affiant avers that previous to Said trial he had no knowledge that the Wife of Said RussellRussell, or any other person ^ than Said RussellRussell had any knowledge that this affiant was held in Slavery by Said defendant.

This affiant avers that the facts [illegible] in his petition to sue for his freedom are true. That he was & is a free man & was at the time of the Commencement of this Suit held in Slavery by Said defendant [.] That the verdict against this affiant is unjust & oppressive tending to the [...] tion of rights to which he is entitled by the laws of the land. And that upon a new X trial he will be able to establish his right to freedom & to prove that he was & is unjustly & unlawfully held in Slavery by Said defendant.

his DredDred X ScottScott mark
Subscribed & sworn this 24th July 1847. John RulandJno. Ruland clerk X Dred ScottDred Scott versus vs . Irene EmersonIrene Emerson -------------------- Affidavit of Dred ScottDred Scott an application for a new trial --------- Filed July 24th 1847 John RulandJno. Ruland clerk
Dred ScottDred Scott versus vs. IreneIrene Emmerson.

The plaintiff Elects to take a new Trial

Field & Hall for plaintiff plff
Filed Nov 15th 1847 John RulandJno. Ruland clerk
Supreme Court of MissouriSupreme Court of Missouri ~~ March Term 1848 ========================================================== Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) vs. ) Envoi[?] Error to Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court. Dred ScottDred Scott (of Color) )

Now at this day come again they parties aforesaid by their respective attornies, and the Court here being now sufficiently advised of and concerning the premises, do consider and adjudge that the judgmen said plaintiff take nothing by her writ of error sued out in the ab [ove entit] led cause— but that the said writ be dismissed, and [that] the said go thereof without day and recover of the said plaintiff his costs an [d char] ges herein expended and have thereof execution.

==========================================================

MissouriState of Missouri

I, Clerk of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the MissouriState of Missouri, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and complete transcript of the judgment of said Supreme CourtSupreme Court, rendered at its March Term 1848, in the Case of Irene EmersonIrene Emerson Plaintiff in error, and Dred ScottDred Scott (of Color) defendant in error, —from t [he] Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set out my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at office, in the City of JeffersonCity of Jefferson, the 24th of July anno domini AD 1848.

H.S. Boon

In the Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court November Term 1847 19 / nee[?] Nov. 46 Irene EmersonIrene Emerson [vs.] Dred ScottDred Scott, of Color ------------------------------ Dismissed at Costs of Plaintiff Pltff. Filed Dec. 11th 1848. John RulandJno. Ruland Clerk
EMMERSON v. HARRIET (of color.) 1. A writ of error will not lie to a judgment granting a new trial; it is no final judgment. 2. Nor can the improper granting a new trial be assigned for error. ERROR to Circuit CourtSt. Louis Circuit Court. SCOTT, J., delivered the opinion of the Court.

This is an action to try the right of HarrietHarriet to her freedom. There was a verdict for the defendant. Afterwards, a motion for a new trial was made and sustained. An exception was taken by the defendant to the granting of the motion, which being overruled she has brought the cause here by writ of error.

From the foregoing statement of facts, it is clear, that there is no final judgment, upon which a writ of error can only lie. The cause is still pending in the court below. Moreover, the case of Helm v. Bassett, 9 Mo. R. 52, settles the point that the granting of a new trial cannot be assigned for error. a The other Judges concurring, the writ will be dismissed.

The other Judges concurring, the writ will be dismissed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EMMERSON v. DRED SCOTT (of color.) ERROR to Circuit CourtSt. Louis Circuit Court. SCOTT, J. delivered the opinion of the Court.

This case is in all respects similar to that of Emmerson v. HarrietHarriet, decided at this term, and a similar disposition is made of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Supreme Court of MissouriSupreme Court of Missouri ~~ March Term 1848 ========================================================== Irene EmersonIrene Emerson ) vs. ) Envoi[?] Error to Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court. HarrietHarriet (Colored woman )

Now at this day come again they parties aforesaid by their respective attornies, and the Court here being now sufficiently advised of and concerning the premises, do consider and adjudge that the said plaintiff take nothing by her writ of error sued out in the above entitled cause — but that the said writ be dismissed, and that the said go thereof without day and recover of the said plaintiff his costs and charges herein expended and have thereof execution.

==========================================================

MissouriState of Missouri

I, Clerk of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the MissouriState of Missouri, do certify that the foregoing is a full and complete transcript of the judgment of said Supreme CourtSupreme Court, rendered at its March Term 1848, in the case of Irene EmersonIrene Emerson Plaintiff in error, and HarrietHarriet (Colored woman) defendant in error, from the Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set out my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at office, in the City of JeffersonCity of Jefferson, the 24th of July anno domini AD 1848.

H.S. Boon

20 Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court November Term 1847 no 1 Nov. T. 1846 Irene EmersonIrene Emerson [vs.] Harriet, (Col woman) ------------------------------ Reversed + dismissed Filed Dec. 11th 1848. John RulandJno. Ruland Clerk