The petitioner is a mulatto free woman of color named Sanite. She presents to the court that she is being confined "illegally unjustly and against the Privileges of her manumition" by the sheriff, Stephen Van Wickle, as security against the debts accrued by her husband Joachim, also known as Porche. Sanite notes that she is a free woman and can offer documents to that effect; and thus cannot be legally held against her will in this manner. She therefore asks the court to direct the sheriff to release her, to order all proceedings against her be stopped, and to make the injunction "perpetual." She also asks for the case to be tried by jury and prays for "all other and further relief as the nature and circumstance" of her case requires.
Result: Granted; appealed; overturned.
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Repository: Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse, New Roads, Louisiana
