Case Name: O'NEALE v. WILLIS
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1809-07
Citations: 18 F. Cas. 698
Docket Number: 
Parties: O’NEALE v. WILLIS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 18
Pages: 698–698

Head Matter:
Case No. 10,616,
O’NEALE v. WILLIS.
[2 Cranch. C. C. 108.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
July Term, 1809.
WlTXESS — PbEEDMAX—COMPETÉXCT.
Quaere, whether a free colored man is a competent witness in a cause between white persons.
Assault and battery, by beating the plaintiff's slave. A free colored man was offered by the plaintiff as a witness.
THE COURT was divided as to his admission.
[Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
CRANCH, Chief Judge,
was in favor of admitting him. upon the authority of U. S. v. Mullany [Case No. 15,832], in this court, at July term, 1809.
THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, contra. The witness was not sworn. A juror was withdrawn by consent.