Case No. 14,733.

UNITED STATES v. CARRICO.

[2 Cranch, C. C. 110.]¹

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

June Term, 1815.

EVIDENCE—CONTENTS OF PAPERS—NOTICE TO PRODUCE.

Upon an indictment for selling a free person as a slave, under the Maryland law of 1796, c. 67, parol evidence may be given of the contents of papers delivered by the witness to the defendant, without a previous notice to produce them.

The witness stated that he delivered to the defendant [James Carrico] the papers which he had received with the woman who was sold, which papers showed that she was bound to serve only three years and nine months.

Mr. Key and Mr. Van Horne, for defendant, objected to parol evidence of the contents of the papers without previous notice to the defendant to produce them; and cited Peake, Ev. 110, 111, Am. note, which refers to Com. v. Messinger, 1 Bin. 273; State v. Orsborn, 1 Root, 152; and State v. Blodget, Id. 534.

THE COURT (MORSELL, Circuit Judge, not sitting, having been of counsel for the defendant) overruled the objection. Quære?

A special verdict was found, upon which judgment was arrested.

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

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