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Lewis Nance
vs } dec T. case
William Hickman

1828 Apl dist agreed at defts costs

Costs Taxed Fee Book
Page 54

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September 1827
Servis 80
Circular milage 14 miles 70
$150
G.R. Dooley Dep Shff

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TERRITORY OF ARKANSAS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, } ss.
To the Sheriff of Hempstead County Greeting:
You are hereby commanded, to summon William Hickman to appear before the Judges of our Superior Court, at the Court-house in the town of Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski, on the first day of our next October term, then and there to answer Lewis Nance to a plea of Trespass on the case and have you then there this writ.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of my office, at Little Rock, this 28th day of August 1827, and of the Independence of the United States of America the [ ]
D.E. McKinney Clerk.
(seal)

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Came to hand the 6th day of September 1827
G. R. Dooley Dep Shff

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The United States of America
Arkansas Territory
Hempstead County
In the Superior court Hempstead county October 1827
Lewis Nance by his attorney complains of William Hickman in custody &c of a plea of Trespass on the case &c For this that whereas the said plaintiff now is a good true honest and peaceable citizen of said Territory and hath always conducted himself as such, and until the committing of the several grievances by the said defendant as hereinafter mentioned was always esteemed among all his neighbors and other good citizens to whom he was in any wise known, to be a person of good name and peaceable disposition and also that the said plaintiff hath never been guilty, or until the time of committing of the several grievances by the said defendant hereinafter mentioned been suspected to have been guilty of the crime of murder, or any other such crime, by means of which premises the said plaintiff before the committing of the said several grievances by the said defendant hereinafter mentioned, had deservedly obtained the good will and opinion of all his neighbors and other good and worthy citizens of the United States aforesaid to whom he was in any wise known to wit at the county aforesaid [Image of page 6] Yet the said defendant well knowing the happy premises, but greatly envying the happy state and condition of the said plaintiff and contriving and wickedly and maliciously intending to injure the said plaintiff in his good name fame and credit and to bring him into public scandal disgrace and infamy with and amongst all his neighbors and other good and reputable persons of this Territory and to cause it to be suspected and believed by those neighbors and other persons that he the said plaintiff had been and was guilty of the horrid crime of murder and to subject him to the pains and penalties provided by law against, and inflicted upon persons guilty thereof, and to vex, harass, oppress, impoverish and wholly ruin him the said plaintiff, heretofore to wit on first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven at the county aforesaid of Hempstead in a certain discourse which he the said defendant then and there had with the said plaintiff of and concerning him the said plaintiff in the presence of and hearing of divers good and reputable citizens of said Territory and particularly: in presence of one James Holman & one John Burman falsely and maliciously spoke and with a loud voice published of and concerning the said plaintiff the false scandalous, malicious and defam- [Image of page 7] atory words, following, that is to say, you (meaning the plaintiff) killed two men Jarret Berry and Edward H Morris (meaning thereby that the plaintiff had committed the crime of murder and was amenable to the laws of the county therefor).
And afterwards to wit on the same day and year aforesaid atthe county aforesaid in a certain other discourse which the said defendant then and there had in the presence and hearing of one James Holman and one John Burman and of divers other good & worthy citizens of said Territory he the said defendant further contriving and intending as aforesaid at the county aforesaid then & there in the presence and hearing of the said last mentioned citizens, falsely & maliciously spoke and published of and concerning the said plaintiff, these others false scandalous malicious and defamatory words following that is to say, you (meaning the plaintiff) are a murderer you killed Jarret Berry and Edward H Morris charging the plaintiff thereby with the crime of murder. Thereby subjecting the plaintiff to a public prosecution on such supposed crime offence. By means whereof and by of said several false scandalous and malicious charges, the [Image of page 8] said plaintiff saith that he is greatly injured and hath sustained damages to the value of [ ]and therefore he brings his suit in his good name fame & credit and brought into public scandal and disgrace with and amongst his neighbors and other worthy citizens atty of this Territory and since the committing of the said grievances the said neighbors and citizens and have suspected the said plaintiff and still do suspect & believe him to be a person guilty of the crime of murder. and from thence henceforth the said neighbors and citizens have refused and still do refuse to transact business, hold acquaintance, or discourse with him the said plaintiff as they were before used and accustomed to have, and otherwise would have had. wherefore the said plaintiff saith that he is injured and hath sustained damage to the value of twenty thousand dollars therefor he brings his suit &c
Wm H. Parrott atty

The Clerk of the Superior Court will issue a summons on the within

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