Case ID: f-cas_23/html/0970-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "THE COURT", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Case No. 13,910.
    THOMAS v. SCOTT.
    [2 Cranch, C. C. 2.] 
    
    Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
    June Term, 1810.
    Slavery — Disclaimer—Attachment—Pleading.
    Upon a petition for freedom, the defendant may appear and disclaim, without entering into the usual recognizance.
    Petition for treedom. The defendant [Alexander] Scott, offered to appear and disclaim all right of property in the petitioner [Walter Thomas, a negro], at the time of service of the subpoena or any time since.
    Mr. Daw, for petitioner,
    objected that he must enter into a recognizance before he can appear, and prayed for an attachment for not obeying the summons. The act of assembly 1796, c. 43, § 5, authorizes the court to require such a recognizance. Mr. Law suggested that Mr. Scott, knowing that a petition was filed, sold and conveyed away the negro before service of the subpoena.
   THE COURT

said that a man may appear, to disclaim, without entering into the recognizance to have the negro forthcoming, and refused the attachment.