Case Name: Negro Sam v. James Green
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1819-04
Citations: 2 Cranch 165
Docket Number: 
Parties: Negro Sam v. James Green.
Judges: (Thruston, J., absent,)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 165–165

Head Matter:
Negro Sam v. James Green.
A slave does not acquire freedom by an importation and continuance a year in Alexandria, unless he continue there one year under the same master or owner.
Mr. Taylor, for the plaintiff.
Mr. 'Hewitt and Mr. Stone, for the defendant.

Opinion:
The Court
(Thruston, J., absent,)
at the prayer of the defendant's counsel, instructed the jury that the plaintiff did not acquire a right to freedom by being brought into Alexandria, and continuing there one year, unless he was continued there a year by one and the same master. For the loss of the property in the slave was in the nature of a penalty; that no freedom can be acquired under the second section of the act, but in a ease in which the penalty of $200 also is incurred, under the third section of the act of 17th of December, 1792.