Samuel Kerfott's slave, Joseph, was tried for attempted rape "on the body of Nancy Mitchell a free white Woman." He was convicted and sentenced to be castrated. A short time after the castration was performed, Joseph died of tetanus. Kerfott seeks compensation for his once healthy, twenty-six year old slave, for whom he claims to have paid 110 pounds "about one week before his Commitment." Contending that he "was obedient to the law" and immediately gave up his slave to meet the court's "fullest inquiry," he turns to the legislature for remedy because there is "no existing law embracing his case." Further elaborating on his reasons for asking for compensation, he avers that "a man whose slave is executed should be paid his value is founded on principles of Justice & sound policy."
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
