Smith v. Yeates

Supreme Court of North Carolina
Smith v. Yeates, 12 N.C. 302 (N.C. 1827)
Haw

Smith v. Yeates

Opinion of the Court

Haw,, Judge.

With respect to the act of 1821, concerning the sale of slaves, accompanied wiih a delivery, the inclination of my mind is with the Judge below'. I also agree with him that the receipt is inoperative as a bill of sale, if for no other reason, because it has no subscribing witness to it; (Rev. ch. 225,3 for the same reason, it cannot be supported as a deed of gift, (Rev. ch.. *304701). The question then is, was there a sale and delivery of the negro .in dispute.

The receipt is evidence that ten dollars was paid, blit {¡ie circumstances attending the payment are before us* From them it appears, there was in fact, no payment made by the Plaintiff. The money was in reality, paid by Johnson to himself, so that although the Jury' found a delivery, the payment did not amount t.o such a consideration, as to make it a sale of the slave. If then there was a delivery, but upon no consideration, it was a gift; but that, by the act of 1806, [Rev. ch. 701,) is void, because not authenticated by deed. A sale, completed by delivery, requires no such evidence. Disguise this case as you will, it is only a gift. If it is considered as a sale, the act, of 1806 may be evaded, by the consideration of a pcpper-corn.

I think there should be a new trial.

Per Curiam. — Judgment reversed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Moses D. Smith et ux. v. James Yeates
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published