Case ID: dc_1/html/0203-03.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. Coulter.
    The practice of selling spirituous liquors, in a public manner, to negroes and slaves, assembled in considerable numbers, and suffering them to drink the same in and about the bouse on the Sabbath, constitutes the offence of keeping a disorderly house, although the owner may have a tavern license.
    Indictment for keeping a disorderly house.
    
      Mr. Morsell, for the defendant,
    contended that a disorderly house is only indictable at common law as a common nuisance, and that actual disorder must be proved. Coulter had a license to keep tavern ; he is only prohibited by statute from selling on Sundays; from dealing with slaves, &e.
    
      Mr. Jones, Attorney for the United States.
    A bawdy-house is indictable as a common nuisance, and yet it is not necessary to prove that any one person has been disturbed by it. .The tendency to corrupt the morals makes it a common nuisance.
   The Court.

The license does not authorize the defendant to sell to slaves or negroes on a Sunday ; it is therefore no justification as to those facts. The practice of selling spirituous liquors in a public manner to negroes and slaves, assembled in considerable numbers, and suffering them. to drink the same in and about the house on the Sabbath, constitutes the offence of keeping a disorderly house.

Verdict, guilty. Fined $10.