Case Name: J. M. Anderson v. The State
Court: Supreme Court of Texas
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1857
Citations: 20 Tex. 5
Docket Number: 
Parties: J. M. Anderson v. The State.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 5–6

Head Matter:
J. M. Anderson v. The State.
There was no law in November, 1856, under which an indictment could be sustained against the master for permitting a slave to hire his own time.
Appeal from Guadalupe. Tried below before the Hon. Thomas H. DuVal.
The facts are stated in the Opinion.
J. Ireland, for appellant.
Attorney General, for appellee.

Opinion:
Roberts, J.
This is a prosecution instituted in November, 1856, for permitting a slave to hire his own time.
There was a motion to quash the indictment, a trial by jury and conviction. Defendant moved for a new trial " for the reason that the verdict and judgment are not supported by the law," which motion was overruled by the Court, and defendant brought the case into this Court on appeal.
The only question is, does the law authorize a prosecution by indictment for this offence? The ease of Rawles v. The State (15 Tex. R. 581) settles it in the negative.
The judgment below is reversed and ease dismissed.
Reversed and dismissed.