04/19/1928: Settle Duncan Suit

Entry/Object ID

NP.1217

Collection

Newspaper Articles

Archive Items Details

Description

Settle Duncan Suit - Amount Given Aged Negro Woman Not Announced - Under Agreement Filed Today at Maysville, Each Side will Pay Its Own Expenses - Once Got $24,000 Verdict - - MAYSVILLE, Mo., April 19. - The litigation growing out of the claim for $80,000 of Sarah Duncan, aged Negro woman, against the estate of the late Henry Clay Duncan, ended here today. A stipulation was filed in circuit court here before Judge Guy B. Park of Platte City, in which it was stated that the suit had been compromised. The amount of the settlement was not stated in the stipulation, and attorneys refused to name the amount. It was understood however, that the amount was much less than $24,000 once awarded the Negro woman by a jury. Judge Park set aside the verdict for $24,000 and ordered a new trial. The suit, which created much interest in northwest Missouri, had been in the courts for about 2 years. Sarah Duncan had been a servant in the Duncan home for many years, and filed the suit as a claim for wages due her. She alleged that she had received little money for her work. Henry Clay Duncan was a large land owner and cattle breeder. He also was president of the Bank of Osborn at Osborn Missouri. Mrs. Elizabeth Duncan is executrix of the estate, and she was named defendant in the action. Under the agreement filed today each side agreed to pay Its own expenses.

Date(s) of Creation

4/19/1928

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

Enslaved

Other Name

Sarah

Name Type

Free Blacks

Other Name

Duncan, Sarah

Name Type

Enslaver

Other Name

Duncan, Henry Clay

Other Numbers

Number Type

Source Citation

Other Number

St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, MO, 1879-2022): 04/19/1928, p. 1

Copyright

Copyright Details

© 2026 BAAC All Rights Reserved

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Bill Nichols

Date

7/22/2026

General Notes

Note

Clinton County, Missouri

Note

1928.04.19 Sarah Duncan St_Joseph_News_Press_1928_04_19_1.pdf

Note

BAAC workbook: 1839-(open) Newspaper Articles CatalogIt version.xlsx [Newspapers begun 04.16.26]

Create Date

September 2, 2026

Update Date

September 16, 2026

Name/Title

04/19/1928: Settle Duncan Suit