Case Name: WALKER v. JOHNSON
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1820-06
Citations: 29 F. Cas. 32
Docket Number: 
Parties: WALKER v. JOHNSON.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 29
Pages: 32–32

Head Matter:
Case No. 17,073.
WALKER v. JOHNSON.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 203.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
June Term, 1820.
Notes — Illegal Consideration.
A note given for the assignment of the time of an apprentice, being for an illegal consideration, is void.
Assumpsit [by Joseph Walker against Joseph Johnson] on a promissory note, given in consideration of the assignment of the time of an apprentice.
Mr. Key, for 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, Circuit Judge,
contra) was of opinion that, the assignment being void, there was no consideration for the note.
See Act Md. 1793, c. 45, § 11, which authorizes an assignment of the timé of an apprentice, for the benefit of the widow, uDon the death of the master.