Action in Trespass and False Imprisonment [Harriett Scott]

Item

“Action in Trespass and False Imprisonment [Harriett Scott]”. New Circuit Court Case, July 1847 - February 1848, 1847, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 2, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/108449

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Filing Name: Action in Trespass and False Imprisonment [Harriett Scott]
Description: Action in Trespass and False Imprisonment on behalf of Harriet Scott against Sanford, Emerson, and Russell; signed by Field and Hall, filed November term 1847
Date: 1847-11
Court Term: November 1847
Is Part Of: New Circuit Court Case, July 1847 - February 1848
Identifier: dre1846.0030.030
Case ID: ccr1847.0000.036
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: > Legal Function: petition

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**Item Page 1**

> Image file: ds82front.jpg
> Document: Action in Trespass and False Imprisonment

State of Missouri Circuit Court

County of St. Louis ^ ss ^ of St. Louis County

November Term 1847

Harriet a woman of color by her attorneys, plaintiff in this suit complained of Alexander Sandford Administrator of estate of John Emmerson deceased, Samuel Russell and Irene Emmerson defendants of a plea of trespass. For that the said defendants heretofore to wit on the first day of July in the year eighteen hundred and forty six at to with, they county of St. Louis aforesaid, with force and arms, assaulted the said plaintiff and then and there beat, bruised and ill-treated her and then and there imprisoned her and kept and detained her there in prison without any reasonable or probable cause, whatsoever for a long time to wit; for the space of one year then[?] next following, contrary to law and against the will of the said plaintiff; and the said plaintiff avers that before and at the time of the committing of the grievances aforesaid, she, the said plaintiff was then and there, and still is a free person and that the said defendants held and still do hold her in slavery: and other wrongs to the said plaintiff then and there did ^ against the Law[?] of the State of Missouri ^  to the damage of the said plaintiff in the sum of three hundred dollars and therefore she sues.

Field & Hall

Attys for Plff.

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**Item Page 2**

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Harriet (of color)
vs.
Alexander Sandford
Samuel Russell
Irene Emmerson

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Trespass & False Imprisonment

Field & Hall

Attys for Plff.

Item sets: Dred Scott Collection; New Circuit Court Case, July 1847 - February 1848