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All these acts were at length repealed in 1788.** 1788 2. 23. So that homicide of slave stands now upon the same footing, as in the cace of any other person. In 1672 it was declared lawful for any person pursuing any runaway Negroe, mulattoe, Indian slave, or servant for life, by virtue of an hue and cry, to kill them in case of resistance, without being questioned for the same.†† 1672. c. 8. A few years afterwards this act was extended to persons employed to apprehend runaways.‡‡ 1680. c. 10. In 1705, these acts underwent some small alteration; two justices being authorised by proclamation to outlaw runaways, who might thereafter be killed and destroyed by any person whatsoever, by such ways and means as he may think fit, without accusation or impeachment of any crime for so doing:§§ 1705. c. 49. And if any such slave were apprehended, he might be punished at the discretion of the county court, either by dismembering, or in any other manner not touching life.
was tried in the general court for the murder of a slave; the jury found him gory of manslaughter, and the court, upon a motion in arrest of judgment, discharged him without any punishment. The general assembly being then sitting, some of the members of the court mentioned the case to some leading characters in the legislature, and the act was at the same session repealed.
