Case ID: dc_5/html/0512-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mary Jennings v. Corporation of Washington.
    The Corporation of Washington, under the power to restrain and prohibit the nightly and other disorderly meetings of slaves, free negroes, and mulattoes, has a right to prohibit them from being out after ten o’clock, P. M.
    Appeal, from the judgment of a justice of the peace against the appellant, who was a free mulatto, for- the penalty of $10, for being out after ten o’clock at night, contrary to a by-law of the corporation.
    
      Mr. Dermott, for the appellant,
    contended that the corporation had no authority to prohibit free persons of color from being out after ten o’clock at night. The charter only gives them power to restrain and prohibit disorderly meetings of free colored persons.
   But the Court (nem. con.) was of opinion, that the by-law in question was justified by the clause in the charter which gives the corporation- power to restrain and prohibit the nightly and other disorderly meetings of slaves, free negroes, and mulattoes.”

Judgment affirmed, with costs.