Case No. 16,711.

UNITED STATES v. WILLIAMS.

[3 Cranch, C. C. 65.]¹

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

Dec. Term, 1826.

TRANSPORTATION OF SLAVE—INDICTMENT.

In an indictment under the 19th section of the Maryland act of 1796, c. 67, for aiding and advising the transportation of a slave, there must be an averment of transportation from the District.

Indictment [against Abraham Williams] under the 19th section of the Maryland act of 1796, c. 67, for aiding, assisting, encouraging, and advising the escape of a female slave of W. L. Brent, “by means whereof she was put into a stage to be transported out of the District.” The words of the act are: “Any person who shall be found to assist by advice, donation, or loan, or otherwise, the transporting of any slave, or person held to service, from this state, or by any other unlawful means depriving a master or owner of the service of his slave or person held to service; for every such offence the party aggrieved shall recover damages in an action on the case against such offender, and such offender also shall be liable upon indictment to be fined a sum not exceeding $200.”

THE COURT said there must have been a transporting of the slave out of the District or the offence was not complete.

Verdict, “Not guilty.”

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

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