Case Name: George Stanback v. Joseph Waters
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1830-04
Citations: 4 Cranch 2
Docket Number: 
Parties: George Stanback v. Joseph Waters.
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: 2–3

Head Matter:
George Stanback v. Joseph Waters.
In an action on the case for receiving the plaintiff’s slave in Virginia and bringing him into the District of Columbia, it is not necessary to prove that the defendant knew the slave to bo the slave of the plaintiff, although the scienter be averred in the declaration.
Difference between the enticing of a servant, and the abduction of a slave.
In an action for enticing the plaintiff’s slave from, the service of the plaintiff, knowing him to be the .plaintiff’s slave, the scientei• must be proved.
Action on the case, for enticing away and receiving the plain tiff’s slave, named-Williamson, in Virginia and bringing him into the District of Columbia.
The 1st count was for enticing Williamson from the service of the plaintiff, knowing him to be the plaintiff’s slave.
The 2d count was for receiving the slave and bringing 'him into the District of Columbia, knowing bina to be the plaintiff’s slave.
Mr. Taylor, for the defendant,
prayed the Court to instruct the jury that the plaintiff was not entitled to recover unless he should satisfy them by evidence that the defendant, at the time, &c., knew that Williamson was the slave of the plaintiff; which instruction the Court gave (nem. con.)
Mr. Neale and Mr. Mason, for the plaintiff.
Mr. Taylor, the defendant,
cited Commonwealth v. Turner, 5 Randolph, 678.

Opinion:
But upon reflection, the Couet (Thruston, J., contra,) was of opinion, that the scienter in the 2d count was immaterial, and therefore need not' be proved; because the receiving the slave and bringing him away, is a sufficient cause of action. The forms of declarations for enticing a servant from the service of his master, always aver the scienter; because the cause of action is the plaintiff's loss of service ; a-particular and personal cause of action, not grounded upon a. violation of the right of property, but of the right of service. The défendant's knowledge that the plaintiff had that right of service is, therefore, in such a case, material; but if a defendant violates-my right of general and absolute property in a'chattel, it is not a necessary ingredient of the cause of action, that he should know that it was my property.