Betsy Dolliole, a free woman of color, represents that she purchased her son, named Jean or Jean Baptiste, with the intent to “redeem him from slavery.” In 1847, however, she was induced to sell Jean as a slave for a term of five years to John and Robert Heation, in return for their agreement to pay a debt of $250 she owed to one Charles Moore. In 1848, the Heations transferred their rights under the contract to one Charles White. Dolliole claims that the men tricked her into these transactions through fraudulence and misrepresentations, taking advantage of her ignorance in such matters and lack of education. She contends that she only intended to hire out her son until she was able to repay her debt. She charges that, in July 1848, White instituted a suit against her for the sum of $600, which represented the money paid to the Heations for the rights to Jean’s ownership plus damages. In addition, and notwithstanding his suit against Dolliole, White kept Jean in prison for many weeks, “severely and cruelly whipped him,” and placed him in a chain gang working for the city of New Orleans. Dolliole prays that the sale transactions be voided and “revoked” as having been obtained through fraud and ill-practice.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans, Louisiana
