Knox County court record for Sommes vs. Newton, 1831

Description:	Folder 3924 in Box 72 of Knox County Circuit Court records at the Knox County Public Library’s McGrady-Brockman House contains seven documents in the case of Sommes vs. Newton. On March 10, 1831 plaintiff Joseph Sommes (Somes) filed suit against Nathaniel Newton, a man of color, to recover a debt of $30.00 for treatment of Nathaniel’s brother Jessie in June, 1830. The constable of Knox County was given a summons for Newton to appear before Justice of the Peace John Collins on March 19, 1831 to answer the charge of trespass. On that date arguments from both attorneys were presented and Collins ruled for the plaintiff. On March 28, 1831 Newton filed an appeal and paid an appeal bond. On September 7, 1831 Abram Ellis, attorney for Sommes asked for a continuance to give him time to get testimony from a material witness William Demwoodie, a resident of Vermillion County. There is no further information in the folder regarding the outcome of the case. Documents include the court transcript, appeal of Newton, request for continuance by plaintiff, summons for Newton, Sommes bill for treatment of Jessie Newton, a receipt for a legal fee, and a statement from an attorney that is illegible. Newton’s name and that of Ceasar Embree dated March 28, 1831. Jessie was treated by Somes for a skull fracture with a trephine (a surgical instrument for cutting out circular sections of bone or corneal tissue) and survived for decades following.
Origin:	1831
Contributor(s):	Sommes, Joseph; Somes, Joseph; Demwoodie, William; Newton, Nathaniel; Newton, Jessie; Embree, Ceasar; Collins, John;
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/kcpl/id/47709
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.