Case Name: United States v. Richard Pignel
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1806-06
Citations: 1 Cranch 310
Docket Number: 
Parties: United States v. Richard Pignel.
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: 310–311

Head Matter:
United States v. Richard Pignel.
It is not necessary that a peace-officer should have a warrant to suppress an affray.
Presentment, for opposing Clement Venable, a constable, in the execdtion of his duty; it having been proved that Venable had a warrant against the defendant.
Mr. Law, for the defendant,
moved that the warrant should be produced, anfl to instruct the jury to that effect.
Mr. Jones, contra.
It is. not necessary to produce the. warrant. Venable took the man in an affray, and had a right to do so as a peace-officer.

Opinion:
The CouRT,
(nem. con.) instructed the jury that if they should be of opinion, from the evidence, that Venable, the constable, was in .the general execution of his offiee as a conservator of the peace, and as such endeavoring to suppress the affray, then it is not necessary to produce the warrant spoken of by the witness. But if the jury should be of opinion that he was only endeavoring to execute the warrant, then the warrant must be produced, or its non-production satisfactorily accounted for.