Supreme Court of North Carolina July 5, 1815 (State v. . Levin)

The first time the offense of horse stealing by a slave appears to have been noticed by the Legislature was in 1741, when, for the first offense, the punishment of whipping and the loss of ears was annexed to it, and for the second offense, death. Ch. 8, sec. 10. At this period the benefit of clergy was taken away from the offense, generally, by several statutes. Ed. VI, and 31 Eliz., ch. 11.