Charles Bouligny, "who resides at Bouligny in the parish of Jefferson," seeks compensation from the New Orleans and Carrolton Rail Road Company for the death of a “valuable and faithful” slave named Joe. According to Bouligny, on Saturday the 15th of June, Joe and a female “servant” traveled on the cars of the New Orleans and Carrolton Rail Road Company from Bouligny, their place of residence, to New Orleans, in order to run some errands. Having completed their purchases, the two slaves boarded the train and Joe climbed on top of the cars, as is “usual and customary” for one having to carry large bundles of freight. The female “servant” paid their fare and requested the conductor to stop at Bouligny. However, in Bouligny, insufficient stopping time was allowed to enable Joe to safely take himself and his freight off the cars. While Joe was handing down his parcels to another servant, the train was “suddenly put in rapid motion” and Joe fell off the car where he was standing and was run over by the car right behind it. A bone in his left leg was crushed to pieces and had to be amputated. In spite of the best medical care, Joe eventually died. Charles Bouligny claims that he has tried to come to an amicable arrangement with the railroad company, but to no avail. He therefore seeks a judgment against the company in the sum of $1,300 to cover the value of his slave and medical expenses, plus $500 in damages for the “wrong & injury so unjustly inflicted upon him.”
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Repository: New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans, Louisiana
