James v. Drake

This is an action on the ease instituted by Henry C. Drake, an infant, by bis guardian, Richard Hyde, against Thomas Gr. James and Thomas C. Simpkins, to recover the value of a slave named Bill, the property of the plaintiff. This slave had been hired by the defendents for the year 1847, and used on the farm of the defendant James.

It is stated in one of the counts of the declaration, that *171through the negligence and imprudence of the defendants, this slave was exposed to a malignant and contagious disease, known as small pox, then existing and in action on the farm of the defendent, which…