State v. Watters, 25 N.C. 455, 3 Ired. 455 (1843)

June 1843 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

25 N.C. 455, 3 Ired. 455

STATE vs. WILLIAM P. WATTERS.

June 1843

The declarations of the grandmother of one, who is charged to he a person of color, that his mother was the offspring of a white man and herself, are not admissible evidence upon that question.

The aGt, prohibiting marriages between white persons and “ persons of color,” includes in the latter class all who are descended from negro ancestors to the fourth generation inclusive, though one ancestor of each generation may have been a white person.

Appeal from the Superior Court of Law of Ashe county, at Spring Term, 1843, his Honor Judge Dick presiding.

This was an indictment for a libel, a copy of which is as follows, viz:

“ Notice, A man called Isaac Tinsley on the first day of this month in a suit wherein the State was plaintiff and myself and wife were defendants, swear a wilful lie and I can prove it. October 15th, 1841.

(Signed) WILLIAM P. WATTERS.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty and justification. The State proved that the libel was written and published by the defendant. The defendant relied on the truth of the charge as a justification. The facts of the case as disclosed by the testimony were as follows : The defendant and one Zilpha Thompson were indicted in Ashe County Court in the year 1841. for fornication* and adultery. The defendants, on the trial, proved that they had been married. The State alleged that the defendant, Win. P. Watters, was a man of color, and that his marriage, therefore, with a white woman was void* The defendant, William P. Walters, contended that he was descended from Portuguese, and not from Negro or Indian ancestors. The State examined one Isaac Tinsly, as a wit-negg on {jje gjjj tria]5 who swore that he knew the grandfather and grandmother of the said William P. Watters, and they were coal black negroes. There was a difference in the testimony as to what Tinsly said on that trial about the color of the mother of the defendant. The defendant and Zilpha Thompson were convicted and punished under that indictment.

On the trial of this case, the defendant examined witnesses, who swore that they knew the mother of the defendant — . that she was a bright mulatto, with coarse straight hair.— that her name was Elizabeth Cullom, and that she lived with a man by the name of John P. Watters, who was a white man, but of dark complexion for a white mam — and that the said John P. Watters was the reputed father of the present defendant. The same witnesses swora. that they were acquainted with Mary Wootten, the mother of Elizabeth Cullom and the grandmother of the defendant — that Mary Wooten was not as black as some negroes they had seen, and had thin lips. A witness on the part of the State swore that he knew Mary Wootten, that she was black, with thin lips and sharp features. The defendant then proposed to prove, that Mary Wooten in her lifetime had stated to one of the witnesses, that the father of Elizabeth Cullom was a white man. This evidence was rejected by the court.

The jury found the defendant guilty, and, after a motion for a new trial which was disallowed, judgment being rendered against the defendant, he appealed to the Supreme Court.

.Attorney General for the State.

Boy den for the defendant.

Ruffin, C. J.

If the evidence had been heard, it could have availed nothing ; and for that reason the verdict should not be distm-bed. The oath of the prosecutor was, on the former trial, that the grand-father and grand-mother of the de-fetid a lit were coal black negroes. In that we must understand- him to mean the reputed grand-father, as no marriage is stated. Now, that is not contradicted by the declaration of the grand-mother, evemif true, that the natural father of her daughter was a white man ; for it is not suggested that the prosecutor knew thereof, or, even tha't there was such a reputation in the neighborhood-,■ or among the kindred of the defendant. But admit that the defendant’s grand-father was white, and the grand-mother only half African — of which. la'st there is no evidence, still the defendant would have been within the degree prohibited from contracting marriage with a white woman. We say, prohibited degree, because, although the act which annuls marriages between the two races, uses the words “ persons of color” generally, we are of dpinion, that expression must be construed in reference to other disabilities imposed, for reasons of a similar nature?, Upon persons of mixed blood. The act of 1777, c. 115, s. 42, the Rev. Stat. ch. 111, s. 74, and the Constitution, article 1st, s. 3, besides other' laws, designate such persons as those descended from' negro ancestors, to the fourth generation inclusive, though one ancestor of each generation may have been a white person. And thus restricted, the act includes the defendant, who, at most, was only the third generation from a full negro.

But we are of opinion that the evidence was properly rejected, independent of the aboveground. It was hearsay; and does not fall within any of the established exceptions to the'general rule; which excludes such evidence. The Legislature has not prescribed the mode in which, in cases of birth out of wedlock, it is to be ascertained whether one of the ancestors was a white pérson ; and we should, perhaps, be at some loss to lay down a rule. But certainly if this is to be viewed as an attempt to prove a pedigree by the reputation in the family, and the declarations of deceased members of it, there is a signal failure. The declaration of the grand-mother assigns the paternity of her child to no' man-in particular, but only to some white man ; and would be the loosest proof of pedigree that ever established one. But if she had mentioned the father by name, and nothing more appeared, such as a recognition of the child by the designated person, or the appearance in point of color of the child or the like, it would have amounted to nothing. It could not be admitted under that class of cases, in which entries or declarations of third persons, with peculiar means of knowledge have been received. For in those cases the entry or declaration was cotemporaneous with the fact; and was also made by one under no motive to pervert the truth. It does not appear, that this declaration was at or about the birth of her child ; nor .when it was. And, besides, it is well known that persons, of the description of this woman, have a strong bias in their minds to induce the declaration from them, and, it possible, the impression on others, that their illegitimate child is the issue of a white man: if not "to gratify a personal vanity in themselves, for the reason, that it removes their offspring one degree from the humbled caste in which he'is placed by the-law, whereby he is excluded from the elective franchise, and from competency as a witness between white persons, and prohibited from intermarrying with them.

Per Curiam. Judgment affirmed.