Passmore Williamson's Case
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
This was an ex parte application, by Passmore Williamson, to tbe Supreme Court sitting in banc at Bedford, on the 11th day of August, 1855, for a writ of habeas corpus.
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This was an ex parte application, by Passmore Williamson, to tbe Supreme Court sitting in banc at Bedford, on the 11th day of August, 1855, for a writ of habeas corpus. The petitioner, in his application, set forth that he is a citizen of Pennsylvania, residing in the city of Philadelphia, and a member of the “Pennsylvania Society, for promoting the abolition of slavery, and for the relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage, and for improving the condition of the African race,” incorporated 8th December, 1789. That, on the 18th of July, 1855, he was informed that certain negroes, held…
1Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Black, J.
This is an application by Passmore Williamson for a writ of habeas corpus. He complains that he is held in custody under a commitment of the District Court of the United States for a contempt of that court in refusing to obey its process. The process which he is confined for disobeying was a habeas corpus commanding him to produce the bodies of certain coloured persons claimed as slaves under the law of Virginia.
Is he entitled to the writ he has asked for ? In considering what answer we shall give to this question, we are, of course, expected…
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- Yates v. LansingCourt for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors · 1811
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- State v. RitchieTennessee Supreme Court · 2000
- In re NevittCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · 1902
- Knaus v. KnausSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1956
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- Commonwealth Ex Rel. McGlinn v. SmithSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1942
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