To the Hon John W. Colvin, Judge of the Law Commissioner's Court of St. Louis County, State of Missouri.
This petition of William C. Logan, for and on behalf of one John Crawley, a free man of color, respectfully showeth that said John Crawley is now restrained of his liberty in the jail of St. Louis County, State of Missouri, by R. F. Logan, Jailor of said County; that he is not detained for any criminal or supposed criminal offence; but that the said John Crawley was arrested under the suspicion that he was a runaway slave, and is now restrained of his liberty as aforesaid by virtue of the affidavit of one George Henley and the warrant of John Black, Justice of the Peace, a true copy of which affidavit and warrant is herewith filed and marked Exhibit A; that the said John Crawley is a free man and cannot therefore be lawfully detained 'x'. Your petitioner therefore prays your Honor to grant a writ of Habeas Corpus agreeably to the provisions of the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided, to bring up the body of said John Crawley, and he will ever pray, &c
'x' Your petitioner further states that no application for the relief sought for by the petition, has been made to and refused by any court officer or officers, superior to the Law Commissioner's Court of St. Louis County
Wm C Logan
William C. Logan, being duly sworn, saith that the facts contained in the above petition are true, to the best of his knowledge and belief
Wm. C Logan
Sworn to and subscribed before me, as witness my hand and notarial seal, this 21st day of August, 1856.
John Decker
Notary Public.
Notary's fee 25 cts.
