Case Name: Negro Ben v. Sabret Scott
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1806-10
Citations: 1 Cranch 350
Docket Number: 
Parties: Negro Ben v. Sabret 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: 1
Pages: 350–350

Head Matter:
Negro Ben v. Sabret Scott.
Upon a petition for freedom the Court will not require the defendant to give security for the wages of the petitioner during the litigation.
Ben had filed his petition for freedom, and a subpoena had issued to the defendant to appear at next term, namely, December term, 1806. He now filed another petition, praying that the defendant may be summoned before the Court to recognize not to carry the petitioner away, &c.; whereupon the Court ordered a subpoena returnable immediately, to answer to this petition; which the defendant obeyed, and gave the recognizance.
Mr. *F. S. Key, for the petitioner,
contended that the defendant ought to recognize to pay such sum as the Court should adjudge him to pay to the petitioner for his services from the time of exhibiting the petition until judgment, in case the judgment should be in favor of the petitioner.

Opinion:
But the Court
refused ; saying they had no jurisdiction in such a summary way to give damages, and they could not compel the defendant to assent to such a judgment.