Harriet v. Samuel T. McKinny
Item
Harriet V. Samuel T. McKinny. 1833, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60789
- Case Title
- Harriet v. Samuel T. McKinny
- Series
- Freedom Suits
- Plaintiff
- Harriet
- Defendant
- McKinney, Samuel T.
- Date Filed
- 1833-04-09
- Next Friend
- Bird, Gustavus A.
- Filing Date
- 1833-04-09
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Bird, Gustavus A.
- Defendant’s Attorney
- Gamble, Hamilton Rowan
- Court Name
- St. Louis Circuit Court
- Court Term
- 1833-07
- Clerk
- Gamble, Archibald
- Sheriff
- Walker, John K.
- Cause of Action
- Trespass
- Assault
- Battery
- False Imprisonment
- Case Notes
- Defendant filed as \an infant under twenty one years of age\"; plaintiff sued for $300 damages; defendant died & Lucinda Carrington
- Case Number
- 54
- Identifier
- ccr1833.06768.006
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Harriet v. Samuel T. McKinny**
---
**Page 1** (6768_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint*
State of Missouri [illegible] Circuit Court Third Judicial Circuit
July Term A D 1833
Saint Louis County ss Harriet an infant under twenty one years
of age by G A Bird, her next friend complains of
Samuel T M Kinney [illegible] of a plea of trespass assault
& Battery & false imprisonment for that heretofore
to wit on the first day of May 1831 at St Louis
in [illegible] County the said Defendant with
force & arms & assault did make upon the said
plaintiff & her the said plaintiff did then &
there beat bruise & illtreat & her the said
plaintiff [illegible] then & there imprison [illegible] any
legal reasonable on probable cause & kept
detained her imprison therefore a long [illegible]
of time [illegible] from the day last aforesaid
untill this time & other wrongs then & there did
against the peace & dignity of the State aforesaid
and said plaintiff says that before & at the
time of the committing the said several grievances
the said plaintiff was & still is as free person and that
the said defendant held & detained & still
holds detains said plaintiff in slavery
By means of which premises the said plaintiff
says she has sustained Damage to three
hundred Dollars & therefore she sues
*G A Bird Plffs atty*
> *Legal Function: Certifcate of Service*
Served this writ on Samuel S.
M Kinney by offering to read
it & the declaration to him on the
2nd day of July 1833 in the city of
St Louis which he refused to
hear read
*Service $ 100 Jno K. Walker
plff*
---
**Page 2** (6768_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No 54 July Term 1833
Harriet by GA Brid
her next friend
vs
Samuel T M Kinney
Declaration in
trespass assault & battery
& false imprisonment
& for [illegible]
Damages $ 300
*GA Brid atty
for Plff filed April 9th
1833 A Gamble Clk*
> *Legal Function: Summons*
The State of Missouri
County of S Louis Sct To the Sheriff of S Louis County
Greeting
We command you to summon Samuel
T M Kinney that he be and appear before
the Judge of our Circuit Court at the term Term
thereof to be held at the city of S Louis within
and for the County of S Louis on the fourth
Monday of July next then and there to answer
Harriet an infant under twenty one years of
age (by Gustavus A Bird ) of a plea of trespass
assault and battery and false imprisonment
to the damage of said plaintiff of three hundred
dollars and have you then there this writ
*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk
of our said Court at Office this
ninth day of April 1833 Archibald Gamble Clerk*
---
**Page 3** (6768_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Defendant's Plea*
Harriett a girl of color
vs
Samuel T Mc Kinney
And the said Defendant Samuel by
Gamble his attorney comes and defends the force
and injury when &c and says he is not guilty
of the said wrongs and injuries in the declaration
set forth in manner and form as the said
plaintiff hath above thereof complained
against him and of this he puts himself
upon the County
*H K Gamble
Atto for Dft[?]*
---
**Page 4** (6768_004.jpg)
[illegible]
death of S.T.M Kinney [illegible] P. Lucinda Carrington[?] enters appearance as defendant sub to court & Judgt
for 1[?] cent damages Book 7 page 482
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No 54 July Term 1833
Harriet
vs
Samuel T Mc Kinney
plea not guilty
*filed July 30th 1833 A Gamble Clk*
---
**Page 5** (6768_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Defendant's Exceptions to Depositions*
Harriett
vs
Samuel T M Kinney
The Deft excepts to the depositions of Nancy
Bright and William Scholle filed in this case
1st Because there was no legal notice given of the
time and place of taking said depositions
2d Because the depositions were not taken in pursuance of the notice given
3d That the depositions are not properly certified
*HR Gamble
atto for Dft[?]*
---
**Page 6** (6768_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Harriett
vs
Mc Kinney
Exceptions to Depositions
*Filed 6th December 1833 Archibald Gamble Clerk*
Harriet V. Samuel T. McKinny. 1833, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60789