Watham v. Oldham's Heirs

The Chief Justice

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

This appeal brings up for revision, a decree for damages against the owners of a boat used as a ferry boat on the Ohio River, between Louisville in this State and Jeffersonville in Indiana—rendered on the ground that their ferryman—though, without their knowledge or authority—had, in violation of a statute of 1824, permitted a slave of the appellees to pass, on the boat, without their authority, from the Kentucky to the Indiana shore, whence he had fled to Canada.

The charge made in the bill against the officer of the boat, was denied by the…