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4 D.C. 664

United States v. Beddo

Decided November 15, 1835

The defendants were convicted of a cheat, by passing and imposing a paper having the appearance of a bank-note, upon a free negro, born of a free colored mother. The only witnesses for the' prosecution were free negroes and mulattoes, born of free colored mothers. The defendants were free mulattoes.

Decided 1835-11-15

The CouRT(Grancií, C. J., dissenting,)

¶1granted a new trial as to both defendants, upon, the ground, as it was understood, that free negroes and mulattoes, not born of white women, were not competent wetnesses against free negroes and mulattoes not in a state of servitude by law.

¶2After the granting of the new trial, the Attorney for the United States, finding that there were no witnesses for the prosecution other than free negroes and mulattoes born of colored women, ordered a nolle prosequi to be entered with the leave of the Court.

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