Mock Trial: State v. Mann

Today in my first year seminar, we had a mock trial on the case of State v. Mann. This was a case in which a slave Lydia tried to run away, and when doing so Mann shot her in the back. Mann was charged with assault and was sentenced to a $10 fine. This was appealed, and then sent to the North Carolina Supreme Court. In the real case it was decided that slave owners have complete control over their slaves. This meant that Mann won the case.

In our mock trial the strong argument from the side of the State was that Mann was renting the slave, and therefore was not an owner. Only slave owners have the right to punish the slave, a third party does not. It was also argued that slaves should be treated in an ethical way. North Carolina has anti-cruelty laws against animals, shouldn't this apply to slaves as well? The lawyers of Mann argued that at the time Mann rented Lydia, that put him in complete control. It did not matter if he was the owner. Overall, both sides had great arguments. It was a successful mock trial.