This case is about slaves or slavery.
| Year: | 1833 |
| Citation: | 31 Va. 672 |
| Jurisdiction: | General Ct. of VA |
| People: | Watts |
| Short Summary: | Watts was a free black man who was arrested and convicted for trying to "ravish" a young white girl (under 12 years old). The court said he needed to be tried as a slave. Additionally, the court said that the girl under 12 is a woman within the meaning of the statute making it felony punishable with death. It seems as though if she were considered a child then it would not be punishable by death? |
| Law type: | (attempted) sexual assault |
| Full name: | The Commonwealth v. Watts |
| Court: | General Court of Virginia |