Rev. Samuel W. Chase brought suit against church members Abraham W. Niles, Reuben Ruby, William Hammett and John M. Johnson for defamation over the advertisements they’d placed on behalf of the Abyssinian congregation in local papers warning that Chase was not an agent nor raising funds on their behalf. The case was heard at the Maine Supreme Court. While Rev. Chase had asked for $2,000 in damages the Court reduced the fine to $150.
View full transcripts and case file from Maine Supreme Court Archives
–Maine Supreme Court Case File – evidence, etc. (48 pages)
–Maine Supreme Court Chase File – findings (volume 2) (10 pages)