Case Name: Trowbridge vs. Hard
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1793
Citations: 1 Mart. 220
Docket Number: 
Parties: Trowbridge vs. Hard.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 220–220

Head Matter:
Trowbridge vs. Hard.
Mich. 3 Car.
THE plaintiff declares that he was a clerk, and the defendant in speaking of him, said: Robert’s attorney in this court purchased a latitat against the defendant, whereupon the defendant added: Go, tell your lawyer, that he is a base rascal, and that I will make him lose his ears, and teach him, or any lawyer of them all, how they dare to serve a writ on me. The plaintiff had judgment, for the words tend to disgrace him in his prosession.
C. J. If he had said that he would have his ears, it might be intended that he meant by violence. But when he said that he would make him lose his ears, he meant for some crime.

Opinion:
Doderidge, J.
If one threatens an attorney for prosecuting a suit in the King's court; he shall be fined and imprisoned by the court of which the party is attorney. 32 H. 8. 6. For the law protects man in his possession.
The defendant for the last words was bound to his good behaviour.