In February 1822, John L. Atwood became security for Benjamin Machall for the payment of $575 with interest to William Jarboe. Atwood alleges that Machall owned a number of slaves who could have satisfied the debt. He conjectures that once the claim of Jarboe against Machall fell to him as Machall's security, Machall's brother-in-law, Thomas Darby, conspired with Machall to keep the slaves hidden through a pretended title in Darby's name. The sheriff managed to capture and sell one of the slaves, Harry, for approximately $152. However, Atwood claims that "in consequence of the said Darby forbidding the sale in the presence of the bidders," Harry sold to a bidder for half of his actual value. Atwood also alleges that Machall and Darby have executed a pretended bill of sale of the slaves transferring ownership from Machall to Darby. John Atwood asks the court to subpoena Benjamin Machall and Thomas Darby to answer the charges.
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Repository: Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland
