Source: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Date: 1806-12-01
Jurisdiction: United States
Citation: 25 F. Cas. 212 · 1 Cranch. C. C. 373
Opinion
Case No. 14,697. UNITED STATES v. BUTLER. [1 Cranch. C. C. 373.] Circuit Court, District of Columbia. Dec. Term, 1806. Assacpt and Battery—Slave. Assault and battery of a slave is an indictable offence. Indictment [against Isaac Butler] for beating a woman of color (a slave) to her damage, and against the peace and dignity of uie government of the United States. Mr. Hamilton, for the traverser, contended that beating a slave was not an indictable offence. CURIA, contra. The property which a man has in a slave is not of the same nature as his property in a horse. It is only a right to his perpetual service. [Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]