Archives at Cornell

Bentley vs. Hanna legal documents

Collection — manuscript box: 31 - folder 1

Identifier: 1102m

Scope and content

4 items including manuscript and printed legal documents on the appeal in the case, which came before the Court of Appeals of New York State. Printed documents lay out the attorneys' arguments for and against reversing the initial judgment. The manuscript appears to be a draft of the judge's verdict in the appeal.

Dates

circa 1852-1854.

Creator

Bentley, Jarvis (Plaintiff, Person)
Hanna, Samuel, active 1847-1854 (Defendant, Person)
New York (State). Court of Appeals (Organization)

Language of Material

In English.

Biographical / Historical

Jarvis Bentley filed suit against Samuel Hanna in 1847 for assault and battery and false imprisonment, both of which allegedly took place in Kinderhook, New York. Hanna claimed that Bentley was his indentured servant, under the name of Jabez Bentley, but refused to serve. Bentley denied being Hanna's indentured servant. The case was decided in favor of the plaintiff; the defendant's side then appealed.