State of Missouri, St Louis County.
To the Hon John W. Colvin
Judge of the Law Commissioners Court St Louis Co
The petition of William Johnson Respectfully shows
That on the 9th day of August 1854
your petitioner was committed to the Jail
of St. Louis County aforesaid by the name of John Johnson suspected of
being a slave by a warrant under the
under the hand of P.W. Johnstone Esq
then a Justice of the Peace of the aforesaid
County. that your petitioner was born in
the City County of St Louis aforesaid of a free
mother, and never has been claimed as
a slave by any person whomsoever. That
your petitioner hath applied to John Hempstead keeper of the jail of said county, in
which your petitioner is imprisoned for leave
to take a copy of the comitment so as to annex the same herto, but said Hempstead
refused to allow your petitioner so to do. That
your petitioner is ready to establish his freedom by satisfactory proof and that the
suspicion of his being a slave is utterly
groundless. that Petitioner is illegally imprisoned & detained in the jail of St Louis
County by said Hempstead and the illegality of said imprisonment consists
in your petitioners being so detained
on the charge of being a slave and
a runaway whereas in truth & in fact he is a
free person of color. Your petitioner
being so illegally arrested and de-
tained in prison prays that a writ of Habeas Corpus
may issue directed to said John
Hempstead requiring him to produce the
body of your petitioner before your Honor
and on the truth of the above allegations appearing that he may be discharged--
Burke & Glover
Attys for Pettioner
William Johnson the above petitioner being duly sworn on his oath says that the foregoing petition and the matter therein set forth are true
William Johnson his X mark
Sworn to and subscribed Oct 11th 1854 before me
Jno W Colvin Law Com
Ex Parte
William Johnson
Pet for Hab. Corp.
Filed 11th Oct 1854
Jno W. Colvin
