McGowan v. Laughlan

This is a petitory action brought by the plaintiff to recover a slave named Jerry. He alleges that he acquired said slave, then known as Spencer, by donation from his father, prior to the year 1839. That sometime in that year or the next, 1840, said slave was enticed away from his possession in Tennessee, where he resided, and came into the possession of the late Wm. Laughlan about twelve years since, and has ever since been in possession of said Laughlan or that of the defendant, but without any legal title.

The defendant in her answer avers that her title is derived from James Stotts, a…