James Mitchell presents to the court that he received from his father-in-law, Benjamin Jewell, three slaves as part of his future wife's dowry. He claims that one of the slaves named Jack was fraudulently assessed at $500 more than its real value by an unsuspecting appraiser prior to the finalization of the marriage contract. He explains that he has found out that Jack had been kept in "chains or irons" for several months prior to the time of the appraisement, but that Jewell had ordered the shackles removed for his appearance before the appraiser. The shackles were immediately replaced after the appraiser had conducted the valuation. Mitchell therefore seeks to recover the amount of money of which he was cheated by Jewell.
Result: Denied; appealed; affirmed.
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Repository: Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse, New Roads, Louisiana
