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9 S.C.L. 180

Benson v. Littlefield

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided May 15, 1818

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1818-05-15

was an action on a note of hand given Pari; *or price of a negro fellow; a portion of consideration money having been paid down # J ° A Before suit; price, 200 dollars. Defence, unsoundness of the property sold. To support this defence, the defendant proved that the negro had the cholic two or three times before the and that he had it several times afterwards, but upon drinking, a little spirits and black pepper, he got better.

Decided 1818-05-15

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Bay.

¶2It is extremely difficult to find out upon what principle the Jury found their verdict for defendant in this case. The negro, it is true, was old; but the price paid corresponded with his years, 200 dollars only. The defendant knew him well, he had lived with him a considerable time before he purchased him, and the complaint he was subject to must have been known to the defendant, and it was easily cured or removed; that he wanted to borrow money to pay for him; and what is most extraordinary, he never offered to return this negro till the suit was brought, which the law requires in order to justify a recision of a contract. Upon the whole, the conduct of the defendant has much the appearance of one of those pretexts which are too often made use of to get rid of bargains fairly entered into.

¶3I am, therefore, clearly of opinion, there should be a new trial in this case; in which opinion all the other Judges concur.

Colcock and Gantt J. concurred.
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