¶1said that persons born free, that is, descended from a white woman, were not, in Maryland, held to be negroes; and were permitted to testify against white persons. And although color is primé facie evidence of slavery, yet the fact that the witness had, for a long time, publicly acted as free, turned the presumption the other way, and was primé facie evidence that he was born of a white woman.
1 D.C. 370
Minchin v. Docker
District of Columbia District Court
Decided December 15, 1806
District of Columbia District Court · decided 1806-12-15
Slander. Charles Cavender, a black man, was admitted to testify for the plaintiff, after witnesses had been examined by the Court on oath, and testified that Charles had acted publicly for eleven years as a free man, and was generally reputed as such.
Decided 1806-12-15