Case ID: f-cas_25/html/0212-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

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.]