Case Name: UNITED STATES v. STRONG
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1821-10
Citations: 27 F. Cas. 1356
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. STRONG.
Judges: (THRÜSTON, Circuit Judge, doubting)
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 27
Pages: 1356–1356

Head Matter:
Case No. 16,411.
UNITED STATES v. STRONG.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 251.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Oct. Term, 1821.
Larceny—Bailment.
If goods be delivered to a workman for a special purpose, and he afterwards take them away with intent to steal them, it is larceny.
Indictment [against Samuel Strong] for stealing sundry copper bolts, the property of the United States.
The prisoner was a workman in the navy yard and employed in driving such bolts. The bolts were delivered to him from the shop where they were cut. He offered to sell them, having first carried them home to his house.' ’ ‘
Mr. Ashton, for defendant,
contended that it was not larceny, unless the defendant took them with intent to steal them. No trespass was committed. There must be an unlawful taking. 1 Hawk. P. C. c. 33, § 2..
Mr. Swann, U. S. Dist. Atty., contra,
cited 1 Hawk. P. C. c. 33, §§ 5, 6. That if the person to whom the possession of the goods has been delivered by the owner, takes away a part of them, with intent to steal it; as in the case of a carrier, or weaver, or miller, it is larceny; so if one has the bare charge, or the special use of goods, but not the possession of them, as the shepherd, butler, servant, and guest; for in these cases the offence may properly come under the word “cepit.”

Opinion:
THE COURT
(THRÜSTON, Circuit Judge, doubting)
instructed the jury that if they should be satisfied by the evidence that the bolts were delivered to the prisoner for the special purpose of driving them into the vessel, and he afterwards took them away, with intent to steal them, it was larceny.