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  • | Legal decision

    Draft of Catharine Brown, Evidence Given

    Catharine Brown's case--Case No. 4582--was scheduled to go to trial in October 1868 in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, but was delayed because of various procedural motions by the railroad's attorneys. When these motions were denied, the case was tried over three days in March 1870. The all white jury rendered a verdict of guilty against the railroad company and awarded Brown $1,500 in damages. Then, the defendant railroad attorney's sought an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Here is their statement of argument, denying that the railroad used violence or made derogatory remarks. Furthermore, in denying Brown's claims, the railroad argued that there were distinctions between through and local passenger types of service, even on the Baltimore and Ohio, and that separate colored cars on local lines were run at the request of black passengers.

  • | Legal decision

    Seth E. Beedy Deposition

    Catharine Brown's attorneys deposed two white men who were on the train with Brown and witnessed her expulsion from the cars in Alexandria. Both lived in Maine and were deposed in December 1869. Seth Beedy was traveling with Benjamin Hinds, who knew and recognized "Kate" Brown. Beedy testified, "she was ejected by violence and that alone."

  • | Legal decision

    Benjamin H. Hinds Deposition

    Catharine Brown's attorneys deposed two white men who were on the train with Brown and witnessed her expulsion from the cars in Alexandria. Both lived in Maine and were deposed in December 1869. Benjamin Hinds' testimony was particularly significant because he described in detail the violence he witnessed, and because he knew Brown "since January 1866," perhaps from her work in the U.S. Capitol, and tried to intervene on her behalf.

  • Catharine Brown, Complaint

    Catharine Brown filed suit against the Washington, Alexandria and Georgetown Railroad in March 1868, arguing that a month earlier she was forcibly and violently ejected from the ladies car in Alexandria, Virginia, because of her color. She sought damages of $20,000 to pay for her medical care and to compensate for the injustice of segregation and discrimination. Brown's original petition focused on the railroad's duty as a common carrier and on Brown's first-class ticket which permitted her to ride in the ladies car.

  • | Legal decision

    Catharine Brown, Plaintiff's Prayers

    A brief description of the judgement Catherine Brown hoped for as the jury decided her case.

  • | Document

    Travel Order Freedmen's Bureau

    A Freedmen's Bureau travel voucher for 107 adults and 16 children (under 12) - "destitute freedpeople" traveling from Charlotte, North Carolina to Plaquemines, Louisiana. Generally, when large numbers of freedpeople travelled, it was under the terms of a labor contract.

  • | Document

    Travel Accounting, Freedmen's Bureau

    An accounting of Freedmen's Bureau-sponsored travel on the Virginia Central Railroad during the first half of 1867. Many emancipated African Americans traveled American railroads to old and new homes in the wake of the Civil War - the Freemen's Burueau paid for much of the travel.

  • | Document

    Order for travel, Freedmen's Bureau

    A type of travel document issued for travel under the auspices of the Freemen's Bureau. This August 22, 1866, voucher authorizes travel from Washington, D. C. to Southwick, Massachusetts on the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. Many emancipated African Americans traveled American railroads to old and new homes in the wake of the Civil War - the Freemen's Burueau paid for much of the travel.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for William Rice, Carpenter, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This carpenter's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that William Rice spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for S. H. Hall, Machinist, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that S. H. Hall spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for James Darnell, Helper, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that James Darnell spent helping to repair rail cars and engines and details the compensation he received in Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for L. Maguire, Machinist, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that L. Maguire spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for R. Young, Machinist, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that R. Young spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for P. Farley, Packer, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This packer's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that P. Farley spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for L. Kershaw, Jr. Machinist, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This junior machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that L. Kershaw spent working on engines and at various other tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for J. F. Gee, Blacksmith, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This blacksmith's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that J. F. Gee spent repairing rail cars and details the compensation he received in Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for C. H. Grenz, Blacksmith, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This blacksmith's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that C. H. Grenz spent repairing rail cars, tools and engines and details the compensation he received in Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for M. Murphy, Packer, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This packer's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that M. Murphy spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for H. N. Walker, Machinist, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that H. N. Walker spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.

  • | Payroll

    Payroll for Jno. Kershaw, Machinist, Knoxville, TN, August, 1865

    This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that Jno. Kershaw spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received while working in Knoxville, Tennessee.