Case Name: The State vs. A. M. Jackson and R. Montgomery
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1842-11
Citations: 1 Speers 13
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State vs. A. M. Jackson and R. Montgomery.
Judges: Richardson, Evans, Butler and Wardlaw, JJ, concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 28
Pages: 13–15

Head Matter:
The State vs. A. M. Jackson and R. Montgomery.
1. On an indictment for a riot, it appeared that two white persons and a negro slave went together to a place where one Brown was at work — that upon their arrival there, one of the white persons cut a club, in the presence of the other two, used threatening language to Brown, and commanded his associates to cut up house logs which the prosecutor had prepared, which they did. Held, that these acts were sufficient to constitute a riot.
2. A negro slave, whether acting under the commands of his master or not, may, in contemplation of law, be one of the three persons necessary to constitute the offence of a riot.
Before Q’Neall, J., at York, Fall Term, 1842.
This was indictment against the defendants, for a riot, committed by them with a slave named Bob, (the property of William Youngblood, but who was in the employment of Jackson.) It appeared that the prosecutor, Brown, and the defendant had adverse claims to a piece of wood land, lying between their respective residences. Brown had cut some house logs, and, with his brother, was hewing some timber on the land in dispute. The slave Bob was found by the prosecutor, splitting rails upon the land which he claimed; he ordered him off. He went, and his employer, Jackson, started to see the prosecutor. After he got about half way from his house to the place at which the prosecutor and his brother were at work, he called the defendant, Montgomery, (who was in his employment,) and the slave Bob, and after being joined by them, proceeded to the place where , the prosecutor was at work. When he reached him, he swore he “ would kill him and all his damned protectors” — he “ would make Montgomery cut his damned liver out.” Jackson cut a club, and ordered Montgomery and the negro to cut up the prosecutor’s house logs, which they did.
The jury found the defendants guilty, and they appealed, on the following grounds:
1st. Because the acts committed by the defendants and the slave Bob, do not constitute in law the offence of riot.
2d. Because the. cutting of the logs by the slave was done by the command of Jackson, the owner, and said slave did not co-operate with the other defendant in any act of force or violence.
Williams, for the motion. Dawkins, Sol’r., contra.

Opinion:
Curia, per
O'Neall, J.
The best definition of a riot is that given in 4th Burns' Justice, Tit. Riot, sec. 1, p. 111. " Where three persons or more shall assemble themselves together, with an intent mutually to assist one another against any who shall oppose them in the execution of some enterprize of a private nature, with force or violence against the peace1 or to the manifest terror of the people, whether the act intended were of itself lawful or unlawful, and execute their purpose," it is a riot. The acts done in this case were an entry by the defendants and a negro, upon the land where the prosecutor was at work, and the cutting in pieces the house logs which he had cut. There was a show of force; for Jackson cut a club, and used some very threatening words. This, according to law, would have made even an act lawful in the beginning, a riot. Burns' Justice, 4th sec. p. 113. That the defendants and the negro assembled with an intent mutually to assist one another, is plainly inferrable from the acts done. They came together ; Montgomery and the negro saw Jackson cut the club; heard his threats, and at his command cut up the house logs.
But the counsel for the defendants argued that the negro acted by the command of his master, and, according to law, could not be punished. There might originally have been much in this argument. But in the State vs. Thackam and Mayson, 1 Bay. 353, the very question now made was decided. In that ease it is stated, " it apeared in evidence that they took a negro man with them, who was armed, as well as the defendants, and they were the only persons present when this outrage was committed. Harper and Holmes, the counsel for the defendants, took the ground that a negro was not, in point of law, such a person as could be capable of committing this offence." The court, (consisting of Burke, Waties and Bay,) were clearly of opinion that a negro was, in contemplation of law, such a person as was capable of committing a riot, in conjunction' with white men. This decision upon the point made, conclusively settled that a negro, slave, whether acting under the command of his master or not, might be one of the three persons necessary in law to constitute the offence " a riot." That decision is commented upon and approved in the State vs. Calder, 2 M'Cord, 463. It is true that Judge Nott, in speaking of the evidence in the case then in hand, thought it was not sufficient to so connect the negroes with the act done, as to make their presence enough to constitute it a riot. That, however, does not help the defendants here. For there, the acts done by the negroes, at the command of their mistress, were only incidentally mentioned, and not brought out by any direct inquiry as to the part which they took in the transaction. Here, the part taken by the negro was looked to as necessary to make out the offence; and, indeed, the act which he did, was the very object intended by the defendant, Jackson, in associating Montgomery and the slave with him. The motion is dismissed.
Richardson, Evans, Butler and Wardlaw, JJ, concurred.