dr. emerson passed away. mrs. emerson was asked by the scotts whether they might be able to purchase their freedom from her. it was something, especially in urban slavery that wasn't that unusual. she refused. she was not interested in selling the scott family. so they decided based on the fact that they were still being held as slaves and held in bondage to sue for their freedom. they entered this courthouse in 1846. each one had their own petition. it wasn't just dred, it was dred and harriet. the case came to trial here in this building in 1847. there was hearsay evidence introduced. it was a mistrial. they lost the first trial and they asked for another trial, which the judge granted. they were able to present the evidence successfully and the jury of all white male, 12 white males, probably some of them slave owners decided that dred and harriet scott should be free. the verdict that was rendered was to give them their freedom. mrs. emerson didn't agree and she appealed the decision to the state supreme court,

dr. emerson passed away. mrs. erson was asked by the scotts whether they might be able to purchase their freedom from her. it was something, especially in urban slavery that wasn't that unusual. she refused. she was not interested in selling the scott family. so they decided based on the fact that they were still being held as slaves and held in bondage to sue for their freedom. they entered this courthouse in 1846. each one had their own petition. it wasn't just dred, it was dred and harriet. the case came to trial here in this building in 1847. there was hearsay evidence introduced. it was a mistrial. they lost the first trial and they asked for another trial, which the judge granted. they were able to present the evidence successfully and the jury of all white male, 12 white males, probably some of them slave owners decided that dred and harriet scott should be free. the verdict that was rendered was to give them their freedom. mrs. emerson didn't agree and she appealed the decision to the state supreme court, w