S142
Legal Document in the Beating of a Slave
February 18, 1867
This extremely rare document is a deposition from a civil case regarding the beating of a slave. The plaintiff in this case gave testimony that he never gave the defendant permission to beat one of his slaves. A fascinating and harrowing look
into the world of slavery.
Autograph document signed "Jannings [illegible] Brown [illegible].A". 1 page 73⁄4x121⁄4, docketed on verso. Deposition in the case of James Keicks v. Thomas Read. In full:
"And as to the second plea of the said Thomas Read, tho [sic] said James Keicks says that he by reason-of any thing by the said Thomas Read in that plea alledged [sic] say that he aught [sic] not to be barred from having an maintaining his action aforesaid thereof against the said Thomas Read, Because, protesting that he never gave the said Thomas Read permission to correct the said boy Billy by whipping in manner and [illegible] on the said Thomas Read has above in his said second plea in that behalf, the said James Keicks says, that the said Thomas Read of his own wrong and without the residue of the cause in his said second plea alledged [sic] beat, bruised and wounded the said negro boy slave Billy - the said first count mentioned and also at the time when [illegible] in the said second count mentioned whipped, slashed and cut a certain other negro boy slave, named Billy in the [illegible] and count mentioned to wit in the county of the [illegible] aforesaid, in manner and [illegible] the said James Keicks hath in and by the said first and second counts of his said declaration above complained against him the said Thomas Read. And this he the said James Keicks prays may he be enquired by the county& the defendant by his attorney [sic] doth the like".
This document is a fascinating - and harrowing - look at slavery.
Read appears to have beaten a slave named Billy without the permission of his owner Keick. It's important to remember that slaves were considered to be property and not people. Even if Read was convicted of a crime, it probably would have been
trespass or damaging Keick's property and not assault.
into the world of slavery.
Autograph document signed "Jannings [illegible] Brown [illegible].A". 1 page 73⁄4x121⁄4, docketed on verso. Deposition in the case of James Keicks v. Thomas Read. In full:
"And as to the second plea of the said Thomas Read, tho [sic] said James Keicks says that he by reason-of any thing by the said Thomas Read in that plea alledged [sic] say that he aught [sic] not to be barred from having an maintaining his action aforesaid thereof against the said Thomas Read, Because, protesting that he never gave the said Thomas Read permission to correct the said boy Billy by whipping in manner and [illegible] on the said Thomas Read has above in his said second plea in that behalf, the said James Keicks says, that the said Thomas Read of his own wrong and without the residue of the cause in his said second plea alledged [sic] beat, bruised and wounded the said negro boy slave Billy - the said first count mentioned and also at the time when [illegible] in the said second count mentioned whipped, slashed and cut a certain other negro boy slave, named Billy in the [illegible] and count mentioned to wit in the county of the [illegible] aforesaid, in manner and [illegible] the said James Keicks hath in and by the said first and second counts of his said declaration above complained against him the said Thomas Read. And this he the said James Keicks prays may he be enquired by the county& the defendant by his attorney [sic] doth the like".
This document is a fascinating - and harrowing - look at slavery.
Read appears to have beaten a slave named Billy without the permission of his owner Keick. It's important to remember that slaves were considered to be property and not people. Even if Read was convicted of a crime, it probably would have been
trespass or damaging Keick's property and not assault.
