Samuel Lee and Barbara Lee, Plaintiffs in Error v. Elizabeth Lee

The plaintiffs in error presented their petition to the circuit court of the United States for the county of Washington in the district of Columbia, setting forth, that they are persons of colour who are entitled to their freedom, and are now held in a state of slavery by the defendant in error, in the said county of Washington, contrary to law, and praying process, &c. The defendant in the court below appeared and pleaded, that the petitioners are not entitled to their freedom as they have alleged, and issue being thereupon joined, the cause was tried by a jury.