Smith v. Moody

Smith sued Moody and another in the court below upon a promissory note.

The defendants answered: “ That the plaintiff is a negro, or person of African descent, and that prior to November 1, 1851, he was a non-resident of the State of Indiana, and came into and settled in and became an inhabitant of said State since that time; that defendants are citizens of the State of Indiana, and were at the time of making the contract sued on, and that said contract was made in said State. "Wherefore, the defendants say that the plaintiff' cannot maintain this suit, and that said contract is void.” '

A…