Though he expresses doubt as to the legality of the Africans enslavement, Judge Thompson denies their motion for writ of habeus corpus, keeping them in custody in the New Haven Jail. Tappan has several of the Africans bring civil suit against Ruiz and Montes for assault and battery and false imprisonment. The Spaniards are arrested in New York City. Hearings begin in the New York Court of Common Pleas, Judge Inglis presiding. Within a week, the court frees Montes, and reduces Ruiz s bail.
Montes flees to Cuba.
Ruiz eventually makes bail and flees as well. The second round of trial opens at the federal district court in Hartford, Judge Judson presiding. Abolitionists try to get the case dismissed on grounds the salvage should have been taken to New York. They then introduce evidence demonstrating that the Africans were not legally enslaved. The court eventually postpones the hearing until January, and moves its location to New Haven.