Case Name: Richard H. Love v. Washington Boyd
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1818-11
Citations: 2 Cranch 156
Docket Number: 
Parties: Richard H. Love v. Washington Boyd.
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: 156–156

Head Matter:
Richard H. Love v. Washington Boyd.
In Virginia a person who has been in possession of a slave for five years need not show the deed under which he claims title.
This was an action upon the case against the marshal of the District of Columbia, for negligently suffering the plaintiff’s female slave Jane to escape from his custody to which the slave, who had sued for her freedom had been committed for safe keeping by order of this Court, the owner having failed to give security to have her forthcoming to answer the judgment of the Court, according to the provisions of the Act of Virginia.
Mr. Swann, for the plaintiff,
offered parol evidence that the plaintiff held possession of the slave for more than five years under a deed of trust.
Mr. Taylor, for the defendant,
objected to the parol evidence, and contended that the deed must be produced, and that no possession under the deed can be proved until the deed is produced; and the Court (Thruston, J., absent,) inclined to that opinion ; but said that the point might be saved; whereupon the parties agreed that the parol evidence offered by Mr. Snoann, should be submitted to the jury; and that if the verdict should be for the plaintiff, and the Court should be of opinion that the evidence was not competent, the verdict should be set aside and a nonsuit entered. Verdict, for the plaintiff, $250.

Opinion:
On a subsequent day the Court rendered judgment for the plaintiff on the verdict, being of opinion that five years possession was sufficient evidence of title without showing the deed under which the plaintiff claimed.