Kidushin1: 3
עֶבֶד כְּנַעֲנִי נִקְנֶה בְּכֶסֶף, וּבִשְׁטָר, וּבַחֲזָקָה. וְקוֹנֶה אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְכֶסֶף — עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, וּבִשְׁטָר — עַל יְדֵי עַצְמוֹ; דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: בְּכֶסֶף — עַל יְדֵי עַצְמוֹ, וּבִשְׁטָר — עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיְּהֵא הַכֶּסֶף מִשֶּׁל אֲחֵרִים.
A Canaanite slave is acquired with money, with a document, or with an act of possession. He acquires himself with money —- through others, and with a document —- on his own; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. The Sages, however, say: With money —- on his own, and with a document —- through others, as long as the money is from others