Case Name: United States v. Negro Ellick, a Slave
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1823-05
Citations: 2 Cranch 412
Docket Number: 
Parties: United States v. Negro Ellick, a Slave.
Judges: 
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: 412–412

Head Matter:
United States v. Negro Ellick, a Slave.
This Court has no jurisdiction in assault and battery by a slave on a white man; and will order him to be taken before a justice of the peace to he dealt with according to law.
This was an indictment of a slave for an assault and battery upon Henry Shortle, a white man. The jury found him guilty, and assessed the fine at $23.

Opinion:
The Court
arrested the judgment; being of opinion that neither the court nor jury could assess a fine or inflict corporal punishment upon a slave, and that an adequate corporal punishment could only be inflicted by a justice of the peace. They therefore ordered the marshal to take the prisoner before N. S. Wise, a justice of the peace, to be dealt with according to law, and that the verdict and this order be certified to the said justice.