Loudon v. Scott

15 F. Cas. 940, 1 Cranch 264

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia
• Decided: November 15, 1805
• Status: Published

Opinion

THE COURT

instructed the jury, that if they should be satisfied, by the evidence, that the plaintiff was brought from Maryland, into the county of Alexandria, in the year 1802, by the defendant’s father, who exercised acts of ownership over him, and hired him out as his slave, and that the plaintiff has been kept in the said county, for one whole year thereafter, or so long at different times as amount to one year, ■ before the bringing of this action, then the plaintiff is entitled to his freedom, although the jury should be satisfied that he was the property of the defendant, at the time he was so brought in, and that the defendant took the oath on the 5th of July, as stated in the certificate.

Verdict for plaintiff.

Reversed by the supreme court of U. S. 3 Cranch [7 U. S.] 324.