Case Name: UNITED STATES v. NEALE
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1821-04
Citations: 27 F. Cas. 79
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. NEALE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 27
Pages: 79–79

Head Matter:
Case No. 15,859.
UNITED STATES v. NEALE.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 241.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
April Term, 1821.
Witness—Competenct—Free Negbo.
A free colored man who has resided in this district eight years, and publicly acted as a freeman, and so generally reputed to be, is a competent witness for the United States against a free colored person.
Indictment for assault and battery.

Opinion:
THE COURT
permitted Edward Pleasants, a black man, to be sworn as a witness for the United States, after proof that he had publicly lived and acted as a freeman for eight years, and was generally reputed to be free.