Case Name: B. Arnold vs. J. Loveless and J. Taylor
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1832-05
Citations: 6 Rich. 511
Docket Number: 
Parties: B. Arnold vs. J. Loveless and J. Taylor.
Judges: Johnson- and Harper, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 40
Pages: 511–512

Head Matter:
B. Arnold vs. J. Loveless and J. Taylor.
Whore two or moro persons unlawfully heat a slays, a joint action by tbo owner, for the penalty of S30, imposed by the Act of 1819, cannot bo sustained against them. Each is liable for the whole penalty, and should bo sued seyorally.
Before Martin, J., al Laurens, Bpring Term, 1832.
This was a sum. pro. to recover the penalty of $50 on any one who shall whip a slave with a ticket, imposed by the Act of 1819.
The defendants moved for non-suit, on the ground, that a joint action against two or more cannot be sustained under the Act. His Honor overruled the motion, and decreed for the plaintiff.
The defendants appealed and renewed their motion for non-suit, on the ground taken in the Court below ; and, failing in that motion, then, they moved for a new trial.
Young, for the motion.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
O'Neall, J.
The process is brought under the following clause of the Act of 1819 : " and if any white person shall beat or abuse any slave, quietly or peaceably being in his or her master's plantation, or found anywhere without the same with a lawful ticket, he shall forfeit the sum of fifty dollars, to be recovered by the owner, and to his use, by action of debt, besides, being liable to the owner in an action of trespass for damages." The only question upon which the Court in-
tends to express any opinion, in this case is, whether two or more defendants can be sued jointly for the penalty imposed by the Act; and we are clearly of opinion, that they cannot. The rule is, if the penalty is on the oflfence, and not on the offender, then as many as commit it, are jointly liable for the penalty ; if it is on the offender, each one who commits the act, is severally liable for the penalty. The Act is, if any white person shall beat or abuse, he shall forfeit the sum of fifty dollars ; plainly meaning that each and every person, who shall commit the act, shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars. The case of the State -vs. Smith & Smith, 1 N. and McC. 13, is an exactly analogous case to this. The defendants there, were convicted of killing a negro "in heat arid passion." The Act of 1740, P. L. 173, under which they were convicted provides that " if any person shall, upon sudden heat of passion, or by undue correction, kill his own slave, or the slave of any other person, he shall forfeit the sum of £350, current money." It was held that each of the defendants was liable for the penalty.
xThe defendants here not being jointly liable for the penalty, the action was improperly brought against two defendants. Each should have been sued severally. The motion for a non-suit is granted.
Johnson- and Harper, JJ., concurred.
Motion granted.
8 Stat. 538. The same provision is contained in an Act of 1839,11 Stat. 58. R.