posed challenge, the said John Crane went with others "out of his own field into the field of the said Campbell, "which was adjoining to that of Crane's, and that the "said Crane did make use of threatening language, such "as he could whip any man in the field, meaning Camp"bell's reapers, amongst which was Abraham Vanhorn; "but after some altercation we find all parties appear to "be reconciled; but before said Crane left the field, an"other dispute arose, in which Crane challenged them "to fight, man for man, which Campbell's party agreed "to do, of which number the said Abraham Vanhorn "was one: when the parties came near together, they par"lied and disputed for some time, the issue of which was, "that the prisoner at the bar swore that if he fought any (6 man that day, he would let out their guts, and likewise "that he would fight Joseph Vanhorn the next morning, "for ten dollars, which the said Abraham Vanhorn was "to bet him. The prisoner at the bar leaving Campbell's "field, after some time a certain John Dawkins, one of "Crane's reapers, suspected some insult given by Camp"bell's party and going to fight any one that would in"sult him. The prisoner at the bar observing this, re

quested the said Dawkins to get him a club, and he "would take his knife, which knife he took out of his "pocket, declaring they could clear their way through "the whole of Campbell's party, upon which the said "Dawkins desisted from prosecuting his intentions, and

"likewise the prisoner at the bar. We find that between 66 sunset and dark, that the said Abraham Vanhorn with "several others passing through the field of John Crane, "the prisoner at the bar, to confirm a bet which was to "ensue the next morning, and also making a noise and “ singing, which the said Dawkins conceived was an in❝sult to the prisoner at the bar and his party. Thereupon "Dawkins called out that he could whip Joseph Van"horn. Joseph Vanhorn replied, it would be no credit to "him if he did, as he was a larger man; upon which the 66 prisoner at the bar came out, and ordered them out of "his field, or he would blow them through, upon which "they immediately quitted the field; he then called for "his gun, which was refused by his wife; he then called "for his knife, and pursued them to the fence, exclaim66 ing Abraham Vanhorn, you have used me ill, and I'll "be damn'd if I dont have satisfaction. Then the said "Abraham Vanhorn replied, not more so than you have "used me. The prisoner then requested the said Abra"ham Vanhorn to come over the fence, and fight him; "the said Abraham Vanhorn made answer, that he the "said prisoner at the bar would use a knife or razor; "the said prisoner at the bar replied, come over the "fence, and I will give a fair fight: the wife of the said

prisoner at the bar came down crying out, Mr. Crane, "I am surprised you should demean yourself to fight "with such a set of negrofied puppies. By this time the

prisoner at the bar, and the said Abraham Vanhorn, 66 were much irritated; at which the said Abraham Van"horn, and Isaac Merchant, one of Campbell's reapers, "had their shirts stripped off, which the prisoner at the “bar had not: the prisoner at the bar and the said Abra"ham Vanhorn attempting to get at each other across "the fence, who was prevented by John Dawkins. Then "the said prisoner struck at Merchant, who struck the "said prisoner at the bar, and turned him round, who "immediately joined in combat with the said Abraham "Vanhorn. We find in the combat that the said Abra"ham Vanhorn threw the prisoner at the bar on the ground, and kept him there for some time; at length "the prisoner at the bar seemed to get the advantage "of the said Abraham Vanhorn, at which time the said "Abraham Vanhorn cried enough, and said his guts (6 were cut out. We do find that the said Abraham Van"horn did receive several wounds with a knife, or some "sharp instrument, of which wounds the said Abraham "Vanhorn died, and that the wounds were given by the "prisoner at the bar. Upon the whole matter the jury 66 pray the advice of the court; and if the court should "be of opinion that the prisoner is guilty of murder, "then we of the jury do find the prisoner is guilty of "murder; and if the court shall be of opinion that the

prisoner is not guilty of murder, but guilty of man

slaughter, then we the jury do find the prisoner not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.'

The District Court not being advised what judgment to give on this verdict, adjourned the question, with the consent of the prisoner, to the General Court for difficulty.

On the 21st November, 1791, the General Court, consisting of Judges Prentis, Tyler, Henry, Jones, Roane and Nelson, entered the following judgment. "This day "came as well the attorney general as the counsel for the "said Crane, and thereupon the question of law arising (6 upon the special verdict in the transcript of the record "of the said case mentioned, to wit, whether the said "Crane be guilty of murder, or manslaughter, being ar"gued, it is the opinion of the court that the said Crane "is guilty of murder, which is ordered to be certified to "the District Court of Winchester."

The Commonwealth against William Williams.

'HE prisoner was indicted for the larceny of a slave, "of the goods and chattels of one Elizabeth Ed"wards, and out of the possession of the said Elizabeth "Edwards."

The jury found a verdict in the following words: "We of the jury do find that William Williams, the pri(6 soner at the bar, did steal, take and carry away, the ne'gro slave Solomon, in the indictment named, on the 25th "October, 1791, out of the possession of Thomas Edwards, to whom the said slave was hired for one year "by Elizabeth Edwards, the right owner of the said 66 'negro slave Solomon. Now if the possession of the "said Thomas Edwards be the possession of the said "Elizabeth Edwards in law, we find the prisoner guilty of "the felony, with which he stands charged, otherwise "we find him not guilty."

The matter of law arising on this verdict was adjourned, and at a General Court, June 26, 1792, present, Tazewell, Jones and Nelson, judges, it was resolved "that the possession of Thomas Edwards, of the negro "slave in the indictment named, is not sufficient in law

to sustain the charge as laid in the said indictment, "and that judgment thereon ought to be given for the "defendant."