National Archive Microfilm Publications Microcopy No. 434

Habeas Corpus Case Records of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia 1820 – 1863

 

Roll 1 – 1820 – 1843

Habeas Corpus for Mulatto Mary and John McKenney

 

Pet. of Mulatto Mary

To the Honble. the Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Washington

The petition of Mulatto Mary humble sheweth that she is a free woman & has been put to jail unlawfully – therefore she prays to be released & that Your Honors will grant a writ of Ha. Cor. directed to the jailor & such relief as to your Honors may seem right.

F. Key for Petitioner

Pet. of John McKenney

To the Honble. the Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Washington

The petition of John McKenney humbly sheweth that he is in jail & wants to get out – that he is free & ought to get out – that he has free papers & sufficient evidence of his freedom & never ought to have been put there.

Therefore he prays Your Honors for a writ of Ha. Cor. to the jailer directed that he be brought forth before your Honors & released. He files herewith his papers. Oct. 31, 1820.

F. Key for Pet.

District of Columbia, Washington County

The United States of America to the Marshal of the District of Columbia

Greetings:

You are hereby commanded to produce the body of John McKenney who it is said is in your custody & also the body of Negro Mary together with the cause of their caption and detention under secure and safe conduct at the courtroom by day at 11 O’clk a.m. Hereof fail not at your peril – Witness the Honable. Wm. Cranch Esq., Chief Judge of said Court the 31st October 1820.

Issued 31 October 1821
By order Wm. Brent, Clk.

Discharged from jail 31 Octo. 1820