James H. Johnston contracted with the Steamboat Arabia to transport him and his twelve slaves from Paducah, Kentucky, to St. Louis for the sum of fourteen dollars. Johnston claims that the second mate of the steamboat, without leave or his consent, ordered Johnston's mulatto slave Napoleon to "help take wood on said Steam boat & work in piling & securing the same board." While so engaged, Napoleon "became & was lost to the Plaintiff by drow[n]ing in the Mississippi River, & was never delivered at St. Louis." Johnston contends that, "owing to the carelessness & wrongful conduct of Defendant," he has suffered damages in the amount of Napoleon's value. He therefore asks the court for a judgment of one thousand dollars.
Result: Granted; appealed; affirmed.
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Repository: Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri
