1024

Case No. 14,533.

UNITED STATES v. BARTON.

[1 Cranch, C. C. 132.]1

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

July Term, 1803.

WITNESS—COMPETENCY—MANUMITTED SLAVES.

Manumitted slaves are good witnesses for or against a free mulatto in Washington county.

[Cited in U. S. v. Mullany, Case No. 15,832.]

Indictment for stealing a handkerchief. Upon the prisoner being brought to the bar, he appeared to be a mulatto. 1025 Two black witnesses, manumitted, were produced by the United States. Objection overruled and witnesses admitted, after reading the acts of assembly of Maryland, 1717, c. 13, and 1796, c. 77.

Barton was indicted as a freeman.

1 [Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

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