Alfred P. Douglas was a lawyer in Portsmouth, Virginia Commonwealth. In 1804, he represented runaway slave Jeremiah, who'd formerly been in Douglas' employ. That case proved to be a landmark in the Federated Commonwealths of America's history, as Douglas put the institution of slavery on trial, and dealt it a fatal blow. The truth about Jeremiah came to light when another attorney, Zachary Hayes brought his apprentice Caleb Gillen, to Douglas's office. Gillen's father, Charles, had been Jeremiah's owner. Rather than surrender Jeremiah, Douglas decided to take the case to trial.