The Motivation Of Celia's Trial

A Slave’s Motivation Master Robert Newsom knows no God or have morals because he commits a harsh crime upon a child, Celia. A man of status, with faith and a man said to have morals, Celia’s master felt entitled. Celia’s trial reveals the injustice and the minds of white men for women and slaves which resulted in the death of Celia, a slave girl. The white man’s many justifications of laws, politics, power, religion, money, morals, status and human worth which is supported by their deep rooted southern philosophy prevented Celia’s truths to prevail and keep her alive. The question to ask is, “Is justice blind?” Celia’s crime provoked by the five years prior when Master Robert Newsom rapes and has continuous sexual acts on Celia as a child. …show more content…
After going through so much Celia reached that point where enough is enough. Newsom’s behavior of sexual abuse to Celia did not change. From Celia describing and telling the daughters of Newsom all about the relationship between her and their father made them aware of the fact that Celia could possibly hurt him. “Their dilemma was made the more acute by Celia’s threat to hurt the old man if he did not quit forcing her while she was sick.” (McLaurin 33). Soon enough both daughters became very aware of the relationship between Celia and their father. Due to the explanation of the relationship it gives a clue to the daughters that the relationship between both Celia and their father is a reality. Yet they still could not have a say so, or do anything to prevent the sexual abuse from happening. On Celia’s behalf she still continued and begged for Newsom to leave her alone, but he did not mind her words. Even when Celia threaten her master of the fact that she would hurt him, Newsom did not take any offense from a slave girl. His continued power to make Celia powerless brought him to his death. Being mistreated and being less of a woman stood no more for Celia. When nighttime approached on Saturday, June 23 the Newsom family went to bed. “At approximately ten o’clock, after the other family members were asleep, Newsom left his bedroom and walked the sixty or so paces to Celia’s cabin.” (McLaurin 34). As Newsom entered …show more content…
Judge Hall knew this going into the case. With all the evidence and testimonies presented, Judge Hall‘s instructions to the jury was that nothing was there that Celia was acting in self-defense. The Missouri rape law did not apply to slaves and that Celia had no right to kill her master. The jury brought back a verdict of guilty. Judge Hall sentenced Celia to hang for her crime. Judge Hall upheld the Slave Code laws. The law “to take any woman unlawfully against her will and by force, menace or duress, compel her to be defiled” (McLaurin 139-142) could not be used to protect Celia because she is a slave. There is another law that if slaves could not harmed their master unless it is self-defense. It did not mention death. In this case, Celia is property not a human. How can property kill someone? Judge Hall did not use the law as it was written. The laws did not say black or white, male or female, “Is Justice Blind?” Judge Hall saw what he wanted to see not what it said. (McLaurin 110). Celia was condemned from the start, her truths did not set her free. The legal system says, “Southern society insisted that the law uphold the keeper’s property rights, while recognizing that as a human being, slaves possessed certain rights, including an inviolable right to life.” (McLaurin