The New Hampshire Gazette

The following original case was tried at Exeter, N. H. during the late session of the Court of Common Pleas there. We copy the account from the News Letter:

State vs. Noah Rollins, This was an indictment charging the defendant with kidnapping, and selling to Samuel Bennett, a mulatto boy, about six years old, named Benjamin Swett, for fifty dollars, as a slave for life. It was proved, that Benjamin Swett, who was a pauper of Exeter, was placed with the defendant upon trial, and was afterwards carried by the defendant to Northwood, and left there for Samuel Bennett, who was about returning to Alabama, where he resides, and that Bennett paid him $50 for the boy. The defence was, that the defendant took a bond from Bennett, who was a responsible man, to return the boy into this State, when he should be twenty years old, and that he only sold the boy's services until that age. The counsel for the State contended that this bond and contract were entirely colorable and fraudulent. The defendant further relied upon the absence of any statute or any principle of common law, ever practiced upon or adopted in this State, rendering kidnapping a criminal offence. Verdict, guilty.

John Sullivan, Esq. County Solicitor, for State; Bell, for Defendant.