Case Name: UNITED STATES v. SWANN
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1803-12
Citations: 27 F. Cas. 1379
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. SWANN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 27
Pages: 1379–1379

Head Matter:
. Case No. 16,425.
UNITED STATES v. SWANN.
[1 Cranch, C. C. 148.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Dec. Term, 1803.
Competency of Witnesses.
A slave is not a competent witness for a free mulatto in a public prosecution.
[Cited in U. S. v. Mullany, Case No. 15,832; U. S. v. Gray, Id. 15,252.]
Indictment for theft [against Nancy Swann, a free mulatto].
Mr. Hewitt, for defendant,
prayed for a summons for a negro slave as a witness for the defendant.

Opinion:
THE COURT
inclined to think that the slave could not be a witness against her, and therefore not a good witness for her, and refused the summons.