Supreme Court of Missouri October 15, 1863 (Joshua v. Purse)

Bates, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The “ Act to enable persons held in slavery to sue for their freedom,” in its first section, provides that “ any person held in slavery may petition the Circuit Court, or judge thereof in vacation, for leave to sue as a poor person, in order to establish his right to freedom, and shall state in his petition the ground on which his claim to freedom