Case No. 15,602.

UNITED STATES v. LINDSAY.

[1 Cranch, C. C. 245.]¹

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

July Term, 1805.

DISORDERLY HOUSE—SELLING LIQUOR TO SLAVES—SUNDAY SELLING.

The practice of selling spirituous liquors, in a public manner to negroes assembled in considerable numbers, and suffering them to drink the same in or about the house on a Sabbath day, constitutes the offence of keeping a disorderly house.

[Cited in State v. Crawford, 28 Kan. 733.]

Indictment [against Adam Lindsay] for selling spirituous liquor to slaves on Sunday, contra formam statuti. The defendant, being a shopkeeper, sold liquors to slaves on Sundays, and kept a disorderly house.

Mr. Jones, for the United States.

Mr. Key, for defendant.

THE COURT was of opinion, that the indictment does not sufficiently set forth any offence under either of the acts of Maryland, cited 1723, c. 16, § 11, and 1784, c. 7, § 12, and the traverser cannot be convicted thereon, or made liable to the penalties contained therein. But the indictment also states an offence at common law, and although the defendant may not be brought within the statute or statutes against the form of which the indictment concludes, the prosecutor may resort to the offence at common law; and, on this point, THE COURT was of opinion, that the practice of selling spirituous liquors in a public manner to negroes assembled in considerable numbers, and suffering them to drink the same in or about the house on a Sabbath day, constitutes the offence of keeping a disorderly house. See, also, the case of U. S. v. Coulter [Case No. 14,875], and U. S. v. Prout [Id. 16,093].

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

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