Case Name: Voss v. Baker
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1802-12
Citations: 1 Cranch 104
Docket Number: 
Parties: Voss v. Baker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 104–104

Head Matter:
Voss v. Baker.
In trespass for breaking up a scow, if the defendant, knowing that a third person had committed the trespass, received from him the timbers and planks, knowing them to be the property of the plaintiff, he is guilty of the trespass. Qucsre.
TRESPASS for breaking up a scow. The Court instructed the jury that if the defendant, knowing that Tuel committed a trespass in taking and breaking up a scow of the plaintiff, received from Tuel the timbers and planks of the scow, knowing them to be the property of the plaintiff, which had been so taken, he is answerable in this action, being equally as guilty as Tuel. >
Marshall, J., absent.
(This opinion was grounded upon the principle that in trespass there are no accessories; and that in a case where a person would be an accessory in felony, he will be a principal in trespass.)
Mr. Woodward, for the defendant,
moved the Court to instruct the jury, that if they should be of opinion that the defendant did not receive the plank, &c., till after the action brought, he could not be liable in this suit, although the principal trespass was committed before the bringing of the action.

Opinion:
Kilty, C. J.,
was inclined to give the instruction as prayed.
Cranch, J.,
contra, that the act shall relate back to the time of the principal trespass. (Quaere.)
Verdict for the defendant.