State vs. Mann

In our first Mock Trial, we disused the court case of John Mann versus the state of North Carolina. In this case, the victim, Lydia; a slave owned by Elizabeth Jones was rented to John Manor labor purposes. Lydia tried to escape during one of her punishments and in return was shot and wounded by Mann. John Mann was found guilty and was sentenced to pay a $10 fine.Mann didn't pay the fine and brought the case to the Supreme Court where he

claimed that his rights as a slaveowner were not abided by.

North Carolina claimed that John Mann had no right to punish the slave since technically he didn't own it, regardless of how Jones treated her slaves. In addition, North Carolina also brought up the William Hodges case that occurred in the British Virgin Islands in hopes the Court will rule in the same favor.

Since most of the world depended on the South for materials, slavery was legal during this time. Mann believed if slaves did not follow the slaveowners command, that he had the right to punish them. And if the slave tried to escape, he was able to do anything he wanted to stop them. As sad and harmful as this sounds today, in 1830 he was correct.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of John Mann and the state of North Carolina reimbursed his fine. As evil as this ruling was, it was the correct one for that time period. It was vital for the Supreme Court to put its feelings aside and make the right decision for the american society. If the court were to rule in favor of North Carolina, slaves would try to escape their slaveowners constantly because there would technically be no legal punishment for them.