Local intelligence
the following singular case was sent to us by Mr. Reid, clerk to the Attorney General for this Colony.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/saqj.15.2609Keywords:
Still-born, Crime & Punishement, South Africa 1825-1829, Cape Colony -- Crimes 1825-1829, Resident Magistrate's Court, Albany, Legal Proceedings, District of Swellendam 1831, J. A. Moolman, Kan River, Swellendam District, Cape Colony, Lea (slave)Abstract
This is a notice of a singular legal case concerning a female slave named Lea in the district of Swellendam (Cape Colony).
On November 22, 1830, Lea, who was a goat herd for farmer J. A. Moolman, returned home and informed her mother she had been delivered of a stillborn female child in the fields and had buried it. When questioned by her mistress about why she hadn't brought the child home, Lea claimed she didn't know it was necessary and feared being observed by the boys who were with the horses.
The next morning, she led her mother and mistress to the burial spot. Upon removing the earth, the child, which was cold, moaned, indicating it was alive. They warmed the child, and by December 13, it was in perfect health. It was then carried by Lea to Swellendam for an examination before the Resident Magistrate. When confronted by her mistress, Lea simply replied, "I can only say, I thought the child was dead," and did not show any emotion, despite being described as fond of her two other children. The case was sent to the editors by Mr Reid, Clerk to the Attorney General.
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