Case Name: THE STATE vs. JACOB R. GRIFFIN
Court: Delaware Court of General Sessions
Jurisdiction: Delaware
Decision Date: 1840
Citations: 3 Harr. 559
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE STATE vs. JACOB R. GRIFFIN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Delaware Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 559–559

Head Matter:
THE STATE vs. JACOB R. GRIFFIN.

Opinion:
Indictment for kidnapping Maria Coursey, a free negro woman.
Adjudged that the presumption of law is in favor of liberty, and no presumption to the contrary arises from color. A negro called as a witness is prima facie free. (Layton, J. dissenting.)
Adjudged, that the allegation of freedom, as contained in an indictment for kidnapping, is a substantive allegation and must be proved.
Yerdict — not guilty.