Case Name: Lewis et al. v. Spalding
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1812-12
Citations: 2 Cranch 68
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lewis et al. v. Spalding.
Judges: (Thruston, J., contra,)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 68–68

Head Matter:
Lewis et al. v. Spalding.
In an action upon the case for maliciously conspiring to deprive the plaintiffs of their slave, it is necessary for them to prove malice in the defendant.' And it is competent for the defendant to show probable cause, and the want of malice.
This was an action upon the case charging that the defendant, “unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously,” conspired with divers ill-disposed persons to the plaintiffs unknown, to kidnap and carry off the slave of the plaintiffs, then in their peaceable possession; and in pursuance of such conspiracy, falsely and maliciously, by false pretences, procured a warrant to have the slave apprehended and delivered to the defendant; and hired persons to seize and carry away the slave out of the peaceable possession of the plaintiffs, for the lucre and gain of the defendant and to defraud the plaintiffs; and attempted to bribe persons to seize and carry away the slave, he the defendant thereby wickedly and maliciously keeping the plaintiffs in continual alarm and danger of having their said slave taken from them by force or fraud : by means of which unlawful conspiracy the plaintiffs were put to great labor, expense, and trouble, in watching and protecting their said slave, and were deprived of his labor and hire, &e.

Opinion:
The Court
(Thruston, J., contra,)
was of opinion that it was necessary for the plaintiffs to prove malice in the defendant; and that it was competent for the defendant to show probable cause, by showing color of title, &c., and to disprove malice.