American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Grand jury indictment for cheating at gambling. Ray County, Missouri, 1839. 7 7/8 x 12 1/4 in. (bottom portion fully separated along horizontal crease, creasing, staining, and chipping to edges). Docketed verso. Undersigned by circuit attorney William T. Wood. Printed document with manuscript corrections/additions indicts Foster Demastus for betting "a large sum of money, to-wit: the sum of twenty-five cents, upon a game of chance, there and then played, by means of a pack of playing cards, then and there being, which said back of playing cards was then and there a gambling device adapted, devised and designed for the purpose of playing a game of chance, for money and property, against the form of the Statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State."
 
[With:] DAGGETT, John D. ALS. St. Louis, 29 May 1828. 2pp., 7 3/4 x 12 1/4 in. (some separation and discoloration at creases, spotting to verso). Addressed on verso to Mrs. Eliza M. Tillson, South Attleborough, MA. Daggett discusses business and traffic in the city: "The steam boat business to this place has increased astonishingly, we have had 110 arrivals...we have now a steam ferry boat that crosses the Mississippi 7/8 of a mile in 7 minutes making 24 trips each way in the day. This place is improving rapidly in building, rents are at present very high..." -- Letter from a solder to his wife. Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, 6 January 1894. 8pp., 5 x 8 in. (creasing, some pages detached). Letter mentions a smallpox vaccine: "It is good that your vaccine took; as it indicated that the small pox germ was there; in other words your constitution was favorable for the infection, so if your arm is a little painful don't let that interfere with your enjoyment." -- And 2 other letters, including one from the same soldier at Jefferson Barracks and one signed by Francis Valle III. -- Together, 4 letters written from St. Louis. 

[With:] [56] Memorial from the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Missouri Territory, on the Subject of the Defenceless Situation of Said Territory; and Praying the Aid of Congress in the Defence Thereof, &c. Washington, DC: A. and G. Way, Printers, 1815. 8pp., 5 x 8 3/8 in. pamphlet (pages nearly fully detached, discoloration throughout, wear to page edges, modern pencil markings). -- [4] Memorial and Resolutions of the Legislature of the Missouri Territory, and a Copy of the Census of the Fall of 1817: Amounting to 19,218 Males. Washington, DC: Gales & Seaton, 1819. 6pp., 5 3/4 x 9 3/8 in. pamphlet (pages uncut along upper edge fold, discoloration, wear to edges). 
-- Together, 2 pre-statehood Missouri Territory memorials.

John Daggett (1793-1874) served as St. Louis, Missouri's fifth mayor, from 1841-1842.