Return to Table of Contents Go to Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51]

PAGE 31

This 1807 document from the City Court, accuses Juan Portas, "an evil disposed person," of swindling—specifically, of having purchased 3804 pounds of coffee from Maurice Dumas and Jean Jarreau with a forged promissory note. In 1807, towns like New Orleans and St. Louis were gateways to the vast, unexplored frontier of the new Purchase and, as such, they attracted people eager to make their fortunes—by honest means or not.      [Territory of Orleans. City Court, #123]

Next page of this document