Case Name: UNITED STATES v. COULTER
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1804-12
Citations: 25 F. Cas. 675
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES v. COULTER.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 25
Pages: 675–675

Head Matter:
Case No. 14,875.
UNITED STATES v. COULTER.
[1 Cranch, C. C. 203.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Dec. Term, 1804.
Disorderly House—Selling Liquor to Negroes —Sunday Selling—License.
The practice of selling spirituous liquors, in a public manner, to aegroes and slaves, assembled in considerable numbers, and suffering them to drink the same in and about the house on the Sabbath, constitutes the offence of keeping a disorderly house, although the owner may have a tavern license
[Cited in State v. Crawford, 28 Kan. 733.]
Indictment for keeping a disorderly house.
Mr. Morsell. for the defendant,
contended that a disorderly house is only indictable at common law as a common nuisance, and that actual disorder must be proved. Coulter had a license to keep a tavern; he is only prohibited by statute from selling on Sundays; from dealing with slaves, &e.
Mr. Jones, for the United States.
A bawdy-house is indictable as a common nuisance, and yet it is not necessary to prove that any one person has been disturbed by it. The tendency to corrupt the morals makes it a common nuisance.
[Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
THE COURT.
The license does not authorize the defendant to sell to slaves or negroes on a Sunday; it is therefore no justification as to those facts. The practice of selling spirituous liquors in a public manner to negroes and slaves, assembled in considerable numbers, and suffering them to drink the same in and about the house on the Sabbath, constitutes the offence of keeping a disorderly house.
Verdict guilty. Fined ?10.