Case Name: UNITED STATES v. ELLICK
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1823-03
Citations: 25 F. Cas. 999
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. ELLICK.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 25
Pages: 999–999

Head Matter:
Case No. 15,042.
UNITED STATES v. ELLICK.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 412.]
Circuit Court. District of Columbia.
March Term, 1823.
Slaves — Assault and Battert — Jurisdiction over Offence.
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 be dealt with according to law.
This was an indictment of [negro Ellick] a slave, for an assault and battery upon Henry Shortle, a white man. The jury found him guilty, and assessed the fine at 523.
[Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judged

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.