Case Name: Negro George Coots v. Mary Morton's Executor
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1838-03
Citations: 5 Cranch 409
Docket Number: 
Parties: Negro George Coots v. Mary Morton’s Executor.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 5
Pages: 409–409

Head Matter:
Negro George Coots v. Mary Morton’s Executor.
The petitioner claimed freedom under the following clause of the testatrix’s will: “ I will that George, if he behaves well until the year 1837, and continues to hire for good wages, shall, at the end of that year, be free.” Held, that it was competent for the defendant to show, that the petitioner did not behave well, &c., but ran away.
Petition for freedom under the following clause of Mary Morton’s will: “ I .will that George, if he behaves well until the year 1837, and continues to hire for good wages, shall, at the end of that year, be free.”
. Mr. Marbury, for the defendant,
offered evidence to prove that t.he petitioner ran away, and that the defendant had to expend two hundred dollars to get him back again.
Mr. Dandridge and Mr. Bradley, for the petitioner,
contended that the condition was only in terrorem, and objected to the evidence.

Opinion:
But the Court (nem. con.) overruled the objection, considering the good behavior as a condition precedent.
Verdict for the petitioner.