Thomas Hickman represents to the Honorable
Alexander Stuart Judge of the circuit
court of St Louis County — that in obedience
to writ of habeas corpus issued from this honorable court directing your affiant to have
into court two free colored girls Sarah &
Hannah. He left home in company with
the said girls with the intention of having them into court in obedience to the said
order that on the road from his home to
the the court house two persons unknown
to this affiant attacked him and by force
took the said girls from his possession in contrary to his will and in defiance of
the best opposition he could employ
Francis Hickman
Sworn in open Court April 18th 1825
A Gamble Clk
April 1825
Thos Hickman return to Habeas Corpus
Filed April 19th 1825
A Gamble Clk
