Case Name: Edward D. Young v. Peter Hoover
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1831-12
Citations: 4 Cranch 187
Docket Number: 
Parties: Edward D. Young v. Peter Hoover.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 4
Pages: 187–187

Head Matter:
Edward D. Young v. Peter Hoover.
If cattle be impounded for damage feasant, the badness of the plaintiff’s fence is no justification of pound-breach, but may be given in evidence in mitigation of damages.
Trespass and pound-breach.
Mr. Marbury, for the defendant, offered evidence of the plaintiff’s bad fence, in justification.
Mr. Redin, contra,
contended that it was no justification of the pound-breach; and cited Bradby on Distress, 287; Cotsworth v. Bettison, 1 Salk. 247; Lindon v. Hooper, Cowp. 414; 1 Rol. Ab. 674, 1. 5; Co. Lit. 47 b, and Latrobe’s Justice, 135.
Mr. Marbury, in reply. If the distress be unlawful, the owner may take them out of pound if it be not locked, only latched, so as no violence be used. Com. Dig. Tit. Distress, D. 2, p. 500.

Opinion:
The Court
(nem. con.) said that the want of a sufficient fence was not a justification of breaking the pound; but may be given in evidence in mitigation of damages; the Court having before permitted the- plaintiff to give evidence of the actual damage done by the cattle in the plaintiff's garden in aggravation of damages.