State v. Mann

In class today, classmates recreated the State v. Mann trial and each team debated for a certain side. This case came about because a female slave was being rented by a man named John Mann. While in his possession, she tried to run away and he shot her in the back. The case is being disputed of whether or not John Mann should pay the ten dollar fine.

State: John Mann was renting the slave from a slave owner and he has the responsibility to return the slave to her owner without harm. Which he did not do. Slaves are allowed to be whipped, tortured, and branded. They are not allowed to be killed. There were many precedents before this case that are mirror images to this case. Other slaves were killed by the owners and were sentenced to death. This is why Mann should be held accountable and pay the fine.

Mann: How can you blame any of this on John Mann? The slave was being disobedient and running away. If she didn't run away none of this would have happened. Although the property law does say that the owner has complete control over the slave and they have the right to punish a run away slave. On top of everything he didn't even kill her. She is lucky to be alive. Slaves have no rights and she shouldn't be trying to win the case. She is a slave and can't even testify in her own case. If she would have followed instructions, none of us would be here. John Mann has done nothing wrong.

Mann ended up getting off and not paying the fine.