1839-1869 Platte County, Missouri, Circuit Court Docket
Archive Items Details
Description
Nelson, slave of John Rogers, tried in Circuit Court for attempted rape. "…the Court being fully advised in the premises decides that the said defendant be castrated. It is therefore ordered and considered by the Court that the said Nelson be castrated and that the same be done by some skillful hand and under the discretion of the Sheriff and that said Sheriff retain the custody of said slave until the costs are paid and unless the same are paid within 60 days the said slave is to be sold by said sheriff to satisfy the same..." Case file from Missouri Archives Judicial Records Historical Database indicates Nelson "Accusing of assaulting (redacted), When asked why he attacked the woman, he said, "The Devil made him do it."
