Case Name: United States v. Isaac Butler
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1806-12
Citations: 1 Cranch 373
Docket Number: 
Parties: United States v. Isaac Butler.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 373–373

Head Matter:
United States v. Isaac Butler.
Assault and battery of a slave is an indictable offence.
Indictment for beating a woman of color (a slave) to her damage, and against the peace and dignity of the government of the United States.
Mr. Hamilton, for the traverser,
contended that beating a slave was not an indictable offence.

Opinion:
Curia,
contra. The property which a man has in a slave is not of the same nature as his property in a horse. It is only a right to his perpetual service.