Source: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Date: 1837-11-01
Jurisdiction: United States
Citation: 5 Cranch 348 · 5 D.C. 348
Opinion
But the Court (Thruston, J., absent,) said that he had no right to restrain her from speaking; and his language showed an intent to strike upon her violation of a condition which he had no right to impose. Suppose a stranger comes to my house armed, and raises his club over my head, within striking distance, and threatens to beat me unless I will go out of, and abandon my house; surely that would be an assault. So if a highwayman puts a pistol to my breast, and threatens to shoot me unless I give him my money ; this would be evidence of an assault, and would be charged as such in the indictment. Verdict, guilty; fined ten dollars.