Case ID: f-cas_28/html/0041-02.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. 16,464.
    UNITED STATES v. TERRY.
    [1 Cranch, C. C. 318.] 
    
    Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
    June Term, 1806.
    8laves as Witnesses.
    Slaves are competent witnesses for free negroes indicted for assault and battery.
    [Followed in U. S. v. Shorter, Case No. 16,-284. Cited contra in U. S. v. Gray, Id. 15,-252.]
    Indictment [against the negress Terry, a free woman] for assault and battery on Mr. Foxon. A slave was offered as witness for the traverser.
    Mr. Jones, for the United States,
    objected. By the Maryland law of 1717, c. 13, § 2, “no slave shall be received as evidence in any cause wherein any Christian white person is concerned.”
   THE COURT

permitted the slave to be sworn.

Verdict, not guilty.