Robert v. Melugen

Robert, a person of color, brought his suit for freedom, against Samuel Melugen, in the circuit court of Jasper county. Judgment being given against him there, he appealed to this court.

On the trial of the cause, evidence was given that James Pharis, then deceased, who had claimed the plaintiff as his slave, and of whom this defendant is administrator, had in his lifetime frequently said that he wished the plaintiff, Robert, to be free, because he had been a faithful slave; that he died from home, and that, these declarations were made in his last siclcness; and that he was prevented by those…