| Date | 1799 |
|---|---|
| Law/Legislation | Law |
| Jurisdiction | DE |
| Title | AN ACT to allow free black persons and free mulattoes in certain cases to give testimony in courts of justice |
| Description/Full Text | Whereas great injustice and many inconveniences have hereto fore arisen from free black persons and free mulattoes not being allowed to give testimony in courts of justice : In all criminal prosecutions , where it shall appear to the court , 4 Witnesses before whom the prosecutions are depending , that no white per- in certain ca son or persons competent to give testimony was or were present at ses the time , when the fact charged is alleged to have been committed , or where such white persons , who were present , have since died , or are absent from the State and cannot be produced as witnesses , any free black person or free mulatto may be admitted in the same manner and under the same circumstances , that white persons may now be allowed to give testimony , any law , usage , or custom to the contrary notwithstanding , Provided nevertheless , That no free negro or free mulatto shall be admitted as a witness nor allow ed to give testimony against any wbite man to charge such white exception man with being the father or reputed father of any bastard child . Passed at Dover , February 1 , 1799 . |
| Additional Information | – |
| Source | https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=XyJEAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA406&hl=en |
| Transcriber Notes | – |
If you are citing this record, please use the following format:
[Author (if known)], Laws and Legislation Related to Slavery and Free Blacks in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (1642-1860), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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