Case Name: UNITED STATES v. CROSS
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1833-11
Citations: 25 F. Cas. 705
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. CROSS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 25
Pages: 705–705

Head Matter:
Case No. 14,894.
UNITED STATES v. CROSS.
[4 Cranch, C. C. 603.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Nov. Term, 1833.
Indictment por Beating Slave.
It is an indictable offence to cruelly beat the slave of another, in the public highway and leave her there, exposed to public view.
UNITED STATES (CROSS v.). See Case No. 3,434.
The first count of the indictment was for a common assault and battery on “one negro Hilly.” The second count charged the' defendant [George Cross] with an assault upon one negro Hilly, “in a public road and highway in the county aforesaid,” and cruelly beating her, “to the great damage of the said Hilly and to the terror and disturbance and annoyance of the good citizens of the United States then and there passing and repassing on and near the said public road and highway, and there and thereabouts living and abiding, and against the peace and government of the United States.” It appeared in evidence that Hilly was the slave of Hr. Z. Walker; and at the prayer of the attorney of the United States—
[Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
THE COURT
instructed the jury that if they should be of opinion, from the evidence, that the defendant cruelly beat the slave in the public highway, and left her there, exposed to public view, it was an indictable offence.
THRUSTON, Circuit Judge,
however, was of opinion that it was not an indictable of-fence unless the beating was in the public view.