Case Name: SAM v. GREEN
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1819-04
Citations: 21 F. Cas. 284
Docket Number: 
Parties: SAM v. GREEN.
Judges: (THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent),
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 21
Pages: 284–284

Head Matter:
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.

Opinion:
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.