John Buhler seeks to rescind an exchange of slaves between him and James A. McHatten. Buhler represents that, in 1851, he purchased from McHatten a twenty-six-year-old woman named Jane and her two-year-old daughter named Martha. Jane and her child were valued at $900 and Jane was verbally “warranted” as a “good & efficient cook.” In exchange, Buhler gave McHatten a slave named Betsy, valued at $300, plus $600 in cash. Buhler claims to have found out that Jane cannot cook at all and is insane. According to Buhler, not only is Jane “valueless” but she is also dangerous. Buhler has approached McHatten on this matter, but the latter has refused to take back the slaves. Buhler therefore asks the court to order McHatten to return Betsy, or her value in cash plus $600, and to take back Jane and Martha. He prays that the sale be declared “null & void.” Furthermore, he seeks $125 for expenses incurred and as remuneration for the loss of Jane’s services while in his possession.
Result: Denied.
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Repository: East Baton Rouge Parish, Clerk of Court Archives, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
