Writ of Habeas Corpus for John Sanford

This document orders the marshal of the Southern District of Alabama to keep John L. Sanford for his court date to answer the libel against him in the case U.S. v. John L. Sanford.

Sanford, a U.S. citizen, was accused of violating the "Laws of the United States for the prevention of the Slave trade" by importing "ten persons of colour – for the purpose of selling the same" as slaves aboard the ship Napier from Liverpool, England.

Transcript

[in brackets] District Court Writs.
Cooper & Leavens – Printers,

United States of America.

District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Alabama.

The President of the United Sates to the Marshal of said District, —Greeting:

You are hereby Commanded, To take the body of John L. Sanford who is a citizen of the United States [crossed out: of Alabama] and him safely keep, so that you have him before the Hon. the Judge of the said Court, at the place of holding said Court at Mobile, on the third Monday of June next, to answer unto The Libel of the United States of America in a plea thus he has violated the Laws of the United States for the prevention of the Slave trade. by importing in the Ship Napier from a foreign port to the Port of Mobile Ten persons of colour. – for the purpose of selling the same

Herein fail not, and have you then and there this writ.

Witness, the Hon. Wm. Crawford, Judge of the said Court, this first Monday of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight

Issued the 24th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight

Attest:
David Tibs
Clk. So. Dist. Ala.

---

197

The United States
vs
John L. Sanford

Receivd 24th May 1838

&Executed on John L. Sanford
CH Austin Balthazer Tardy
& Joseph Auge as securities
Same Day

R L Crawford
U.S.M.
[illegible] Cuylee
D.M.

[illegible] Ete Bond
300
50
$350