Knox County court record for State of Indiana vs. LaSalle, 1821

Description:	Library’s McGrady-Brockman holds eight documents in the case of State of Indiana vs. James Lasselle, 1821. This case was one of bastardy. Olivia Jones, a free colored woman had given birth to a daughter (out of wedlock) on 10-11-1821 and was living in a facility for the poor. She appeared before Frederick Graeter, a justice of the peace on 11-30-1821 and stated that a free man of color, James Lasselle was the father of her “bastard” child. She took an oath before Graeter and was interrogated by him and the counsel for James, who was at the hearing. Olivia testified that sexual intercourse between her and James had commenced about ten months earlier and their last intercourse about four months prior to the hearing. She stated that James was the only person she had sex with and that he had promised to marry her before she had allowed his sexual contact. On 11-3-1821 Lasselle came before Graeter and received an order from the court to pay a recognizance for his appearance at the next hearing. When Lasselle had previously been approached and asked for help by Olivia, he had refused to accept the child as his and did not help her financially. At that time she and her baby were living in a facility for the poor. The prosecutor had put forward at a hearing that James did have property and the means to pay support for the child. The attorney for Lasselle argued and filed a Bill of Exceptions passed on May 1, 1820 to prevent Laselle from having to sell property to pay debts. There was also a dispute between attorneys on both sides as to whether this case was to remain a civil case or could it be a criminal case. There were also arguments between attorneys about a jury verdict being reached without defendant’s counsel being able to offer further testimony. A Writ of Error was also entered with a Bill of Exception. The case lasted nearly two years. The jury finally reached a verdict of “not guilty” for LaSalle and the plaintiff ended up being charged with all fees. Both mother and child ended up under the custody of overseers of the poor. Documents in the folder include complaint by Olivia Jones, examination of Jones, recognizance of LaSalle, writ of error, bill of exception, and record of the trials.
Origin:	1821
Contributor(s):	Lasalle, James; Jones, Olivia; Graeter, Frederick;
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/kcpl/id/46674
Collection:	Knox County Public Library
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Copyright:	No Copyright - United States
Geography:	Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana, United States
Subjects:	Black people -- America -- History African Americans -- History Black people -- History Slave records Slave labor Slavery Slaveholders Enslaved women Enslaved men Slavery -- Law and legislation Indentured servants Indiana -- Northwest Indiana -- History Vincennes (Ind.) Knox County (Ind.)

Further information on this record can be found at its source.