Case Name: THE STATE vs. JAMES HARTEN
Court: Delaware Court of General Sessions
Jurisdiction: Delaware
Decision Date: 1847-10
Citations: 4 Harr. 582
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE STATE vs. JAMES HARTEN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Delaware Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 582–582

Head Matter:
THE STATE vs. JAMES HARTEN.
Discharge on a petition for freedom, founded on the illegal exportation of petitioner by his master, is evidence of his freedom, on an indictment for kidnapping him.
The general reputation of a kidnapper is evidence of the intent with which defendant aided him in carrying off a free negro.
Kent,
October term, 1847.
On the trial of James Harten, who was indicted with Jacob R. Griffin and others, for kidnapping one Peter Howard, a free negro, with a count for aiding and assisting Griffin to kidnap, it was ruled,
1st. That the record of Peter Howard’s discharge on a petition for freedom filed against his former master for selling him out of the State, was sufficient evidence of his being a free negro.
2d. That the general reputation of Jacob R. Griffin as a kidnapper might be given in evidence, to show the intent with which the defendant aided him in binding and carrying off the said Howard.

Opinion:
The defendant was convicted.