Smith v. Hancock

*222OPINION of the Court, by

Ch. J. Boyíe.

This was an action of trespass ri et armis, brought by Han-cock against Smith and Harris, for beating and wound-inga negro slave, the property of the plaintiff, whereby be afterwards died. The defendants pleaded severally not guilty, upon which issues were joined, and the de-fondant Harris offered an additional plea, in which he alleged in substance that the slave in the declaration mentioned was on the night of the day on which the trespass is supposed to have been committed, at an un-]⅞¾-⅛1 assembly of negroes at the house of John Smith, that the said…