Henry Stephens and Dixon & Cooley on behalf of , Declaration, , IL, [ca. 27 Mar. 1844], Sympson v. JS (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1844); unidentified handwriting; docket by unidentified scribe, [, IL, ca. 27 Mar. 1844]; notation by , [, Hancock Co., IL], 28 Mar. 1844; notation by James M. Campbell, [, McDonough Co., IL], 12 Aug. 1844; eight pages; McDonough County Circuit Court Files, Illinois Regional Archives Depository vault, Archives and Special Collections, Leslie F. Malpass Library, Western Illinois University, Macomb.
the false, scandalous, malicious, and defamatory words following, that is to say, (he meaning the said ) is the man that attempted to rob and murder — by means of the committing of which said several grievances by the said defendant as aforesaid in the last two counts mentioned, the said hath been and is greatly injured in his said good name, fame; and credit, and brought into public scandal, infamy and disgrace, with and amongst all his neighbors and other good and worthy citizens of this , insomuch that divers of those neighbors and citizens to whom the innocence and integrity of the said in the premises were unknown, have, on account of the committing of the said grievances by the said defendant on the said last two counts mentioned as aforesaid, from thence hitherto suspected and believed, and still do suspect and believe, the said to have been, and to be, a person guilty of Felony, so as aforesaid charged upon and imputed to him by the said defendant, and have, by reason of the committing of the said grievances, by the said defendant, as aforesaid, from thence hitherto wholly refused, and still do refuse to have any transaction acquaintance, or discourse with the said , as they were before used and accustomed to have, and otherwise would have had, and also by means of the premises in the last two counts mentioned as aforesaid the said hath been, and is otherwise greatly injured and damnified, to wit, at the County of aforesaid— To the damage of the said of Ten Thousand Dollars, and therefore he brings his suit &c—
By Stephens, Dixon & Cooley his Attorneys— [p. [7]]