In 1844, the executor of the estate of Abraham Standifer, deceased, hired out the slave Augustus to Lewis Houston, who gave as payment his promissory note for $125. At the time, the executor, James H. Standifer, was indebted to Houston for a small amount. Shortly afterwards, Robert M. Cunningham, a physician, who was also indebted to Houston, submitted medical bills to the estate. With the executor short of funds, Houston permitted the amount owned him to offset the medical bills with the understanding that the amounts would be deducted from the note he signed to hire Augustus. But in 1845, Standifer transferred Houston's note to Blake Little, who transferred it to William J. Steele, and when James Standifer settled the administration of the estate no mention was made of the amount Houston paid to cancel his note. Meanwhile, the holder of the note filed suit. Houston responds by filing suit himself, "Forasmuch therefore as you orator is without remedy except by the aid of this Honorable Court."
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Repository: Sumter County Courthouse, Livingston, Alabama
