United States v. Negro Priscilla West

United States v. Negro Priscilla West. Evidence that a colored person has resided in the county and city of Washington for a year and more, going at large as a free person, and claiming to be free, in the absence of all contradictory evidence, except color, is sufficient to rebut the pre sumption of slavery, arising from color. A coloRed woman was offered as a witness for the United States. Mr. W. L. Brent, for the defendant, objected that primd facie she was a slave. Mr. Eckloff testified that she had lived in his family as a free woman; that he had known her about twelve months; and that she was generally reputed to be, and passed as a free woman. Mr. D. Waters, a constable, testified that he had known her about a year, and that she was generally reputed to be a free woman. That she had acted openly as such, and everybody believed her to be free. [MAJORITY — The Court] The Court (nem. con.) said this evidence was sufficient to rebut the presumption arising from color, and to throw the burden of proof on the defendant.