Case Name: Negro Walter Thomas v. Alexander Scott
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1810-06
Citations: 2 Cranch 2
Docket Number: 
Parties: Negro Walter Thomas v. Alexander Scott.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 2–2

Head Matter:
Negro Walter Thomas v. Alexander Scott.
Upon a petition for freedom, the defendant may appear and disclaim, -without entering into the usual recognizance.
Petition for freedom. The defendant, Scott, offered to appear and disclaim all right of property in the petitioner, at the time of service of the subpmna or any time since.
Mr. Laiu, for the 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 sub-pmna.

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