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1 D.C. 239

Milburne v. Byrne

District of Columbia District Court · decided 1805-06-15

Case for enticing a servant. The plaintiff’s declaration stated that John Leonard, (the servant,) for a certain price agreed to serve the plaintiff for eight months. The plaintiff produced. an indenture by which, in consideration of eight guineas paid by the plaintiff to'Alexander Smith, Leonard agreed to serve the plaintiff for eight months. objected that the proof varied from the declaration.

Decided 1805-06-15

The Court(Fitzhugh, J., absent,)

¶1was of opinion that the indenture being executed here, the servant was not such a servant as is described in the Virginia Laws, c. 132, and therefore the whipping by the order of the justice was illegal; but still it was such a contract for service as would maintain this action if Leonard was enticed away by the defendant.

¶2Mr. Lee then prayed the Court to instruct the jury, that if Leonard had deserted the service of Milburne, and if the defendant, knowing that fact, employed and harbored Leonard, it is sufficient evidence to the jury that the defendant enticed Leonard away. Esp. N. P. 646 ; Faiocet v. Beauves, 2 Lev. 63.

¶3The Court was of opinion that it was presumptive evidence ■against the defendant, from which the jury might infer that he enticed the servant away.

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