Case Name: Joseph Walker v. Joseph Johnson
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1820-06
Citations: 2 Cranch 203
Docket Number: 
Parties: Joseph Walker v. Joseph Johnson.
Judges: (Thruston, J., contra,)
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: 203–204

Head Matter:
Joseph Walker v. Joseph Johnson.
A note given for the assignment of the time of an apprentice, being for an illegal consideration, is void.
Assumpsit, on a promissory note, given in consideration of the assignment of the time of an apprentice.
Mr. Key, for the defendant,
contended that the assignment, being unlawful, was not a sufficient consideration to support the action upon the note.'
Mr. Jones, contra,
contended, that although the assignment was void, yet the defendant had enjoyed the services of the apprentice, and was bound in conscience to pay the note.

Opinion:
The Court
(Thruston, J., contra,)
was of opinion, that the assignment being void, there was no consideration for the note.
(See the Maryland Act of 1793, c. 45, § 11, which authorizes an assignment of the time of an apprentice, for the benefit of the widow, upon the death of the master.)