Case No. 12,275.

SAM v. GREEN.

[2 Cranch, C. C. 165.]¹

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

April Term, 1819.

SLAVERY—IMPORTATION INTO DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA—HELD UNDER DIFFERENT MASTERS.

A slave does not acquire freedom by an importation and continuance a year in Alexandria, unless he continue there one year under the same master or owner.

[This was an action by Negro Sam against James Green. Petition for freedom.]

Mr. Taylor, for plaintiff.

Hewitt & Stone, for defendant.

THE COURT (THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, absent), at the prayer of the defendant's counsel, instructed the jury that the plaintiff did not acquire a right to freedom by being brought into Alexandria, and continuing there one year, unless he was continued there a year by one and the same master. For the loss of the property in the slave was in the nature of a penalty; that no freedom can be acquired under the second section of the act, but in a case in which the penalty of $200 also is incurred, under the third section of the act of 17th of December, 1792.

¹ [Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

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