Case Name: STEVENS v. LLOYD
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1803-06
Citations: 23 F. Cas. 20
Docket Number: 
Parties: STEVENS v. LLOYD.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 23
Pages: 20–20

Head Matter:
Case No. 13,402.
STEVENS v. LLOYD.
[1 Cranch, C. C. 124.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
June Term, 1803.
Assault and Battery — Plea—General Issue-Son Assault Demesne — Burden or Proof.
1. In assault and battery, on the plea of not guilty, the plaintiff is not bound to prove that the defendant struck or assaulted him first
2. But on the plea of son assault demesne, the defendant must prove that the plaintiff assaulted him first.
[See Case No. 13,403.]
[This was an action of assault and battery by Stephen Stevens against Edward Lloyd.]

Opinion:
THE COURT
instructed the jury that to support the issue on his part, on'the plea of not guilty, the plaintiff was not bound to prove that the defendant struck him first or made the first assault; but that to support the plea of son assault demesne, the defendant must prove that the plaintiff made the first assault.