Barksdale v. Appleberry

This is a suit in the nature of an action of detinue for recovery of a slave. The plaintiff alleges that she was the owner of the slave; that defendant got possession of him, and refused to deliver him to her, and that he wrongfully detains him to her damage, and prays for delivery of the slave or the value. An order for delivery was made. The sheriff returned that he could not find him.

The defendant filed his answer, denying the title of plaintiff to the slave, and denying her possession. He says the slave belonged to his father’s estate, and that the slave was in possession of Elizabeth…