Case Details

Willard v. People

Case # 001344, 001444

Appellant/Plaintiff

Julius A. Willard

Appellee/Defendant

People of the State of Illinois

Appellant/Plaintiff Attorneys

James H. Collins, Alfred Cowles, William Brown, Henry B. McClure

Appellee/Defendant Attorneys

James A. McDougall

County of Origin

Morgan County

Justice

Justice William Wilson Justice Walter B. Scates Justice Samuel D. Lockwood

Terms of Court

December 1843

Type of Case

Harboring Fugitive Slave

Disposition

Affirmed

Citation

5 Ill 461

Case Summary

Willard was indicted for unlawfully secreting Julia, a mulatto girl and slave belonging to Sarah Lisle, while she passed through Illinois en route from Kentucky to Louisiana. Despite his demurral, the court fined him. The defense argued the indictment violated constitutional clauses and state ordinances regarding slavery. However, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the judgment, citing the necessity of interstate comity and maintaining peace. The law of comity permits passage of slaves through states, thus upholding the judgment. Case 001444 is missing, but is possibly part of this case.