Case Name: THOMAS v. SCOTT
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1810-06
Citations: 23 F. Cas. 970
Docket Number: 
Parties: THOMAS v. SCOTT.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 23
Pages: 970–970

Head Matter:
Case No. 13,910.
THOMAS v. SCOTT.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 2.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
June Term, 1810.
Slavery — Disclaimer—Attachment—Pleading.
Upon a petition for freedom, the defendant may appear and disclaim, without entering into the usual recognizance.
Petition for treedom. The defendant [Alexander] Scott, offered to appear and disclaim all right of property in the petitioner [Walter Thomas, a negro], at the time of service of the subpoena or any time since.
Mr. Daw, for petitioner,
objected that he must enter into a recognizance before he can appear, and prayed for an attachment for not obeying the summons. The act of assembly 1796, c. 43, § 5, authorizes the court to require such a recognizance. Mr. Law suggested that Mr. Scott, knowing that a petition was filed, sold and conveyed away the negro before service of the subpoena.

Opinion:
THE COURT
said that a man may appear, to disclaim, without entering into the recognizance to have the negro forthcoming, and refused the attachment.