Meechum v. Judy
Supreme Court of Missouri
Julia brought an action against Meechum for freedom, The defendant pleaded not guilty, and that the plain tiff is his slave: a verdict and judgment were given for the plaintiff Julia. Meechum by his counsel Mr. Drake, moved the court for a new trial. It appears by the bill of exceptions, that Lewis a negro, gave testimony for the petitioner.
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Julia brought an action against Meechum for freedom, The defendant pleaded not guilty, and that the plain tiff is his slave: a verdict and judgment were given for the plaintiff Julia. Meechum by his counsel Mr. Drake, moved the court for a new trial. It appears by the bill of exceptions, that Lewis a negro, gave testimony for the petitioner. The defendant made an affidavit shewing that he had purchased the plaintiff as a slave, from one Newton, and had a bill of sale of Newton, with warranty. That Newton was a white man and had been notified by the defendant of the suit and requested to…
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion delivered by
McGirk, Judge.
The statute says negroes &c. cannot be witnesses, ex-Opinion of the cept in pleas of the State where negroes are defendants,C0lirt *363and in other cases when negroes alone are parties to the suit.
In a motion for a plieant must ai-Iege that the ver-thaVhehns merits &c
The counsel insists, that as Newton is the real defendant, the case is not one where negroes alone are concern-" that the court ought to look to the real parties, in interest, to determine whether negroes can give testimony; that the court must look beyond the letter of the statute iMo ^ spirit; that…
2Cited by8 opinions
- Culbertson v. HillSupreme Court of Missouri · 1885
- Lovell v. DavisMissouri Court of Appeals · 1893
- State ex rel. Reid v. GriffithSupreme Court of Missouri · 1876
- Eidemiller v. KumpSupreme Court of Missouri · 1875
- Rickroad v. MartinMissouri Court of Appeals · 1891
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