State of Missouri v. John, a slave the property of James Moore

Item

State of Missouri V. John, a Slave the Property of James Moore. 1827, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 7, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60703

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Case Title: State of Missouri v. John, a slave the property of James Moore
Series: Lewis and Clark
Plaintiff: State of Missouri
Defendant: John
Date Filed: 1828
Filing Date: 1828
Court Name: St. Louis County Court
Court Term: 1828-11
Judge: Gamble, Hamilton Rowan
Clerk: Gamble, Archibald
Sheriff: Moore; Simpson, R.
Jury Foreman: Sullivan, John C.
Cause of Action: Larceny
Case Notes: Defendant a slave of James Moore; William Clark victim; larceny of watch and chain.
Identifier: ccr1828.01157.011
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **State of Missouri vs. John, a slave the property of James Moore**

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**Page 1** (1157_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Grand Jury Verdict*

State Of Missouri , St Louis County. Ss. November Term 1828
The grand jurors for the State of Missouri , empannelled, sworn
and charged to enquire for the body of the county of St Louis
upon their oath present that John ( a slave the property of
James Moore) late of the country of St Louis aforesaid to
on the first day of November
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
with force and arms, at the county of St Louis
aforesaid, one watch of the value of five dollars
one watch chain of the value of one dollar
and one watch seal of the value of two
dollars
of the value of of the goods and chattels
of one William Clark then and there being
found, feloniously did steal, take, and carry away, contrary to the form of
the statute in that case made and provided, and against the peace and
dignity of the State.
Verout of Acquitted
Book 5 page 323
Archibald Gamble Clerk

*HR Gamble Clerk Atto[?] pro Tempore*

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**Page 2** (1157_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

November 1828
The State
v Indictment
John (a slave) of James Moore
For Larceny
Witnesses

*Henry a slave of Gov-
Clark
Jacques Martin
John Graham A true Bill John C Sullivan foreman*

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**Page 3** (1157_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order*

The State
vs Indicted for Larceny
John (a slave)
Be it remembered that on the
trial of this cause the state in support
of the prosecution failed to give sufficient evidence
that the property in the defendant
John was in James Morre as is
charged in the indictment and the
Defendant on his part produced and
gave in evidence a bill of sale con
-veying[?] the Defendant to Robert
Morre Alexander Moore and
Nelson Moore and thereupon the
Defendant by his counsel moved
the Court to instruct the jury that
if they beleived from the evidence
that the Defendant John at the
time of the indictment being found
was not the slave of James Morre
as charged in the indictment [illegible]
that they should send the Defendant

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**Page 4** (1157_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Capias Ad Respondendum*

State of Missouri County of St Louis Sct To the Sheriff of St. Louis County Greeting
We command you to take John (a slave) - if he be found in
your county and bring him forthwith before our Circuit Court now in
session at the City of St. Louis within and for the County of St. Louis then
and there to answer to an Indictment found against him by the Grand Jury
for Larceny - and have you then there this
writ

*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Circuit
Court at Office this Twenty Seventh day of
November 1828 Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 5** (1157_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

November Term 1828
The State
vs [illegible] [illegible]
John (a slave)
Recognised page 209-No 5

*A Moore Security*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

John not found R. [illegible]

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**Page 6** (1157_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
The State Of
Missouri , To The Sheriff Of Saint Louis County--Greeting:
You are herby commanded to summon Jacques Martin- John Graham
and Henry a slave of Gov. Wim. Clark-
that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the twelfth day of January instant , at the city 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 the State of Missouri - is plaintiff,
and The state of Missouri is John a Slave - is - defendant,
on the part of the State ;and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit
Court , at the city of St. Louis , this Eighth - day of
January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine Archibald Gamble Clerk C. C.*

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**Page 7** (1157_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

November Term 1828
The State
vs
John (a Slave)

*for John Graham
Jacques Martin
& Henry (a slavr of Gov. Clark) for the State on 12 January
1829*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed on John Graham
the Jac.[?] Martin & Henry
Jan 19 1828 [illegible] [illegible]
to them the from

*[illegible] Service 1.50*

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**Page 8** (1157_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
The State Of
Missouri , To The Sheriff Of Saint Louis County--Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to summon Henry (a slave of
William Clark's )
Jacques Martin and John Graham
that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the 24th day of March - , at the city 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 The State of Missouri - is - plaintiff ,
and John (a slave) - is - defendant ,
on the part of the State ; and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit
Court , at the city of St. Louis , this 23rd day of
February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twenty nine Archibald Gamble Clerk C. C.*

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**Page 9** (1157_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Exceuted on John Graham March 5. for the Martin
and Henny (slave of G. Clark) March 9 1829 by
[illegible] to then the same

*R. Simpson , Shff
Service 1.50*
> *Legal Function: Caption*

March 1829
The state
&
John (a Slave)
on 24th March for the state

*John (a Slave of G. Clark)
Jacques Martrn
John Graham*

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**Page 10** (1157_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
The State Of
Missouri , To The Sheriff Of Saint Louis County--Greeting.
You are hereby commanded to summon [illegible] Sophia a negro
woman
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, she be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the forthwith day of at the City 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 The state of Missouri is - plaintiff ,
and John (a slave) is - defendant ,
on the part of the defendant ; and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clark of our said Circuit Court ,
at the
City of St. Louis , this 28 day of
July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine Archibald Gamble Clerk C. C.*

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**Page 11** (1157_011.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

July Term 1829
The State
vs
John
for Sophia for defendant

Item sets: All Circuit Court Records; Circuit Court Cases; Lewis & Clark / Corps of Discovery Case Files, 1805 - 1837