Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/162

 FORD.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16 day of April 1853

J. E. LYLE, Clerk. [ENDORSED] Polk District Court

Nathaniel Ford

The Territory of Oregon

Ex Parte Robin Holmes.

D.

Robin Jttolmes ) District Court of the United States

vs. ) for the County of Polk vs.

Nathaniel Ford ) April 1853

HABEAS CORPUS

Robin Holmes the petitioner in this case respectfully shows r.ncl states to the Court the following answer to said Respondents return to said writ of Habeas Corpus to wit. That some time in the year 1841, Said petitioner and his wife Polly were the slaves of Mayor Whitman a Paymaster in the United States Army in Howard County Missouri and had been the slaves of said Whitman for the space of twelve years next proceeding said last mentioned date. That some time in the year 1841 said petitioner and his wife Polly were taken on a writ of execution by said Respondents, who was then sheriff of said Howard County, and sold at public vender by said Respondent to satisfy certain debts of said Whitmans. That said petitioner and his wife Polly were bid off and purchased at said sale by a merchant then resident of said Howard County whose name is not now remembered by your petitioner. That the next morning after said sale Respondent sent your petitioner to the house of said purchaser to procure a waggon to take your petitioner and his family to the residence of said purchaser. That when your petitioner arrived at the house of said purchaser he was informed by the wife of said purchaser that he had gone away to purchase goods, and that she knew nothing about aforesaid purchase of your petitioner and wife Polly. Your petitioner then returned to the house of said Respondent, and informed him of what had transpired at the house of said purchaser, that said Respondent, replied to your petitioner that the respo