Thirteen members of the Clement and Desobry family seek compensation for slander and libel. The petitioners, all "being blood relations or related by marriage," assert that on 17 August 1860, Ellen Schlatre, "with the interest of bringing the good name, fame and social position" of the petitioners into disgrace and contempt," did "falsely and maliciously utter declare and say to Mrs Pierre Bevin and Octave Bevin that 'the family of petitioner Charles Clement Senr were negroes' or were the descendants of negroes." They further claim that Ellen Schlatre's husband, Valsin J. Dupuy, soon after reiterated his wife's accusations "in the Sentinel and Gazette a public newspaper." The petitioners assure the court that "they are of pure white ancestry and have been long residents of the State of Louisiana" and that Ellen and Valsin Dupuy's comments "are false, malicious, unfounded, and grievously slanderous" and have caused "their society to be shunned matrimonial contracts with some of them to be broken, and bringing upon them all disgrace and the contempt of the public." In consequence, the petitioners pray that Ellen and Valsin Dupuy be condemned to pay them $200,000 in damages. The petitioners further pray for a "trial by Jury."
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: Iberville Parish Courthouse, Plaquemine, Louisiana
