Case ID: f-cas_25/html/0999-01.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

Case No. 15,042.
    UNITED STATES v. ELLICK.
    [2 Cranch, C. C. 412.] 
    
    Circuit Court. District of Columbia.
    March Term, 1823.
    Slaves — Assault and Battert — Jurisdiction over Offence.
    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 be dealt with according to law.
    This was an indictment of [negro Ellick] a slave, for an assault and battery upon Henry Shortle, a white man. The jury found him guilty, and assessed the fine at 523.
    
      
       [Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judged
    
   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.