State of Missouri v. John Walker, Pierre Chouteau, Bernard Pratt, Alexis Amelin

Item

State of Missouri V. John Walker, Pierre Chouteau, Bernard Pratt, Alexis Amelin. 1826, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60675

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Case Title: State of Missouri v. John Walker, Pierre Chouteau, Bernard Pratt, Alexis Amelin
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: State of Missouri
Defendant: Walker, John K.; Chouteau, Pierre; Pratte, Bernard; Amelin, Alexis
Date Filed: 1826-05-16
Filing Date: 1826-05-16
Court Name: St. Louis Circuit Court
Judge: Wash, Robert
Clerk: Gamble, Archibald
Sheriff: Walker, John K.
Cause of Action: Habeas corpus
Case Notes: Four slaves suing for freedom were Catherine, Julia, Helen and Joseph; Amelin agent for Alexander Scott, captain of the steamboat, "General Brown"; John Walker was Jailor of St. Louis County
Identifier: ccr1826.01148.004
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **State of Missouri vs. John Walker, Pierre Chouteau, Bernard Pratt, Alexis Amelin**

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**Page 1** (1148_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ of Habeas Corpus*

County of St Louis [illegible]
The
State of Missouri To the jailor of St Louis County
Pierre Chouteau Sr . Bernard Pratte and
Alexis Amelin - Greeting
Whereas it has been made appear
to our Circuit Court now in session at the
city of St Louis within and for the County
of St Louis that you the jailor of St Louis
County,& Pierre Chouteau Sr Bernard
Pratte and Alexis Amelin detain in your
custody certain persons of colour namely
[illegible] alias Catherine, Julie, Joseph
Helen who have petitioned and obtained
leave from our said court to sue as for
persons to establish their freedom
these are therefore to command [illegible]
that the bodies of the said [illegible]
Joseph and Helen by you detained and
safe and secure conduct, together with
the day and causes of their being taken
and detained by whatever names they
may be called, you have before the
Image of our circuit court on [illegible]
the 19th day of May instant at the
Court [illegible] in the city of St Louis
then and there to do and [illegible]
in [illegible] our said court shall
[illegible] in that [illegible]

*Witnesses Archibald Gamblin Clerk
of said court at St Louis this
16th day of May 1826 Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 2** (1148_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ of Habeas Corpus*

In [illegible] to this writ I have [illegible]
in Court the [illegible] bodies of [illegible] Julia
& Helen, the said Joseph is not, nor ever has been in my custody, - who [illegible] when committed
to my custody by Alexis Amelin , an
[illegible]agent of [illegible] [illegible]
the steam Boat Genl Brown for [illegible]
safe keeping,

*[illegible] J.K.Walker, Shff & Jailor
of St Louis [illegible] City*
To the jailor of St. Louis County

*P. Chouteau [illegible] B. Pratte Vs By the Habeas Corpus
[illegible] Act 16th May 1826*
> *Legal Function: Writ of Habeas Corpus Part 2*

[illegible]
[illegible]

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**Page 3** (1148_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Affidavit of Alex Amelin*

Alexis Amelin , to whom the writ of Habeas
Corpus, hereto attached, was directed, commanding
him to have the bodies of bathuha, Julia, Joseph
and Helen, persons of colour, before this honorable
court, together with the came of their
caption and detainer, for return to said writ
outfin to the court here, that the said Bathuha
Julia and Helm, were committed to the custody
and [illegible] of him the said Amelia , at Her
enlancum in the county of Jefferson , same time
in the month of April - last, by Alexander Scott
Martin of the steam boat General Brawer, as the agent of said Scott , for the purpose of bringing
the said Bathuha Julia and Helen to St Louis and to make return of their bodies before the Honorable Robert wash our of the Judges
of the [illegible] court of the state of Missouri
[illegible] in obedience to a writ of Habeas Corpus,
issued by said Judge [illegible] to said
Scott , that said Amelia brought the said
bathuha Julia and Helen to St Louis as agent
of said Scott , and on his return found that
the said Judge Had gone to [illegible] to [illegible]
Sepian of the supreme court; that
said Amelia committed the said bathuha
Julia &[?] Helen to the custody of John K
Malker Esq. Jailor of St Louis county for safe
keeping, untill the said Judge should return
to his chamber, that after said Judges
returned to his chambers, the said Bathuha
Julia & Helen were not taken out of the
custody of said Amelia , by order of said
Judge, but were left with him as before
the return of said writ, no order having
been made by said judge. That said

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**Page 4** (1148_004.jpg)
Bathuha Julia and Helen are now in the
actual custody of the said John K Malker
and an datained by him at my request, untill
they shall be claimed and taken away from me
by my principal
[illegible] [illegible] or his authorised agent
that the said Amelia hold the said Julia Helen
and [illegible] in my custody in no other character
than as the agent of said Scott , & that
they are not detained by me for any criminal
or supposed criminal matter & that they are
now in the custody of said Walker , ready to
be produced to this honorable court by him
on said writ. And the said Amelia saith
that Joseph , mentioned in said writ never
was, nor is he now in my custody or
[illegible] or detained by [illegible] in any manner
whatsoever, but is informed and believes that
Pierre Chouteau senior, who claims said Joseph
as his slave, has sent him up the Missouri
river,[illegible]
Sworn to in open court

*May 26 1826 A Amelia A Gamble Clerk*

Item sets: All Circuit Court Records; Freedom Suits Case Files, 1814-1860; Circuit Court Cases