John Molton, a free man of color, petitions to be released from jail. Molton represents that he was put in jail on the basis of an affidavit by one William Jackson, who claimed that he had “used language rebellious in its tendency, & calculated to destroy that line of Distinction which exists between the several classes of the community.” Molton explains that, while witnessing the execution of two slaves on the public square, he had indeed "made use of language strongly disapproving of the cruel manner in which the executioner did his duty," but he had used "no imprudent-or disrespectful expressions towards any officers on duty-or towards any other white man." He claims that everything he said was "under the excitement of the moment, when the feelings of all the bystanders were outraged." He further asserts that his conduct can be explained by the fact that he had had a quarrel with the executioner prior to this incident and there was bad blood between them. He seeks a writ of habeas corpus and to be released from his confinement.
Result: Partially granted; denied.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: East Baton Rouge Parish, Clerk of Court Archives, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
