Case ID: dc_2/html/0412-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Court", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

United States v. Negro Ellick, a Slave.
    This Court has no jurisdiction in assault and battery by a slave on a white man; and will order him to be taken before a justice of the peace to he dealt with according to law.
    This was an indictment of a slave for an assault and battery upon Henry Shortle, a white man. The jury found him guilty, and assessed the fine at $23.
   The Court

arrested the judgment; being of opinion that neither the court nor jury could assess a fine or inflict corporal punishment upon a slave, and that an adequate corporal punishment could only be inflicted by a justice of the peace. They therefore ordered the marshal to take the prisoner before N. S. Wise, a justice of the peace, to be dealt with according to law, and that the verdict and this order be certified to the said justice.