Case ID: f-cas_21/html/0284-02.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

Case No-12,275.
    SAM v. GREEN.
    [2 Crunch, C. C. 165.] 
    
    Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
    April Term, 1819.
    Slavery — Importation into District op Columbia — Held under Different Masters.
    A slave does not acquire freedom by an importation and continuance a year in Alexandria, unless he continue there one year under the same master or owner.
    [This was an action by Negro Sam against James Green. Petition for freedom.]
    Mr. Taylor, for plaintiff.
    Hewitt & Stone, for defendant.
   THE COURT

(THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent),

at the prayer of the defendant’s counsel, instructed the jury that the plaintiff did not acquire a right to freedom by being brought into Alexandria, and continuing there one year, unless he was continued there a year by one and the same master. For the loss of the property in the slave was in the nature of a penalty; that no freedom can be acquired under the second section of the act, but in a case in which the penalty of $200 also is incurred, under the third section of the act of 17th of December, 1792.