Description
On or about March 1, 1853, Pitt represented to Dale that Pitt was the guardian of the heirs of Layton Ewell, having been appointed by the Platte County Probate Judge. Pitt demanded $120 allegedly owed by Dale to the Ewell Estate for the hiring of a “negro woman named Philis, a slave wife of Elijah Dale, belonging to the Ewell Estate. Dale “being ignorant and illiterate” & having no knowledge as to the residence of said Ewell heirs, had permitted Philis to stay with Dale, there being no one who would take charge of her & had during the time said woman had so lived with him, supplied her & her youngest child with necessaries, boarding, etc. accounting to more than the amount claimed by Pitt. Dale “being ignorant and illiterate” paid the $120 to Pitt. To induce the payment, Pitt made statements “as to the taking of the said Negro woman immediately from the neighborhood”, statements that played upon the fears of Dale & coerced the $120 payment. Dale charges that Pitt was NOT the guardian as represented and had no right to collect & receive the $120. That the representations of liability and fears of removing Philis “were all false and fraudulent, made with intent to cheat and defraud Dale.” “We the jury find for Plaintiff Dale $130.80” James Stone Foreman. Missouri
The Missouri Archives Judicial Records Historical Database has an on-line record and scanned case file images.Date(s) of Creation
7/28/1853
