NEW DEPARTURE BELL CO. V. CORBIN.
901
NEW DEPARTURE BELL CO. v. CORBIN et ale (Circuit Court, D. Connecticut. No. 891. 23, 1898.)
L
The fact that, from the previous relations Ilnd conduct or the parties, there are special equities In favor of complainant (as where an employ6, after making an invention and assigning it to his employer, leaves the employment, enters that of another, and procures a new patent to avoid the former one), is not to be considered In determining the question or patentable Invention, since the public interest demands that the true racts be known as against the original patent. When, on the face of the specifications and claims, and through the file wrapper and correspondence with the patent office, the inventor has stated tbat he confines himself to the specific rorm shown, and when. furthermore, the prior art shows that on any other theory the patent must be void for lack of novelty, the patentee will not be permitted to extend the scope of his claims.
EQUITIES.
2. SAME-LIMITATION OF CLAIMS.
B.
SAME-BELLS FOR CARS.
The Rockwell patent, No. 517,395, ror improvements In bells, construed, and held not infringed.
This was a suit in equity by the New Departure Bell Company against P. & F. Corbin and E. D. Rockwell for alleged infringement of letters patent :Ko. 517,395, issued .March 27, 1894, to E. D. Rockwell, for improvements in bells. Newell & Jennings, for complainant. Mitchell, Bartlett & Brownell, for defendants. TOWNSE:KD, District Judge. This case presents the common features of a complainant claiming as assignee under a patent to one of its employes, of the employe entering the service of another company, and getting up a new patent to avoid the former one, and the defenses of lack of patentable novelty and non infringement in view of the relations of the par'ties and the prior art. It is strenuously argued in these cases, and seems to be assumed by counsel, that, inasmuch as the equities are against such defensps, the patent is entitled to a favorable consideration upon the question of validity against them. I do not so understand the law. It may be true that, upon the naked question of infringemrnt, these considerations are relevant in suggesting a favorable consideration to the patent; but as was said by Mr. Justice Shiras, in Haughey v. Lee, 151 U. S. 285, 14 Sup. Ct. 332, "the defense of want of patentable invention in a patent operates not merely to exonerate the defendant, but to relieve the public from an asserted monopoly." In such cases the public interest demands that the true facts shall be shown as against the original patent, which has been secured by the patentee from the patent office, upon representations that it covers a valuable invention. This patent is limited in terms to a certain form of gong or bell for cars. Every element of the patented combination was old, and it is difficult to understand upon what theory the patent office granted it. The only theory which receives any support is that advanced by the
902
88 FlilDlilRAL RlilPORTlilR.
defendant, namely, that the inventor claimed the specific construction shown, with all the self-imposed limitations of his claim as to details, and secured a patent on the ground that the adaptation of well-known constructions to specific purposes of a car bell involved some slight exercise of inventive skill. In the familiar statement of the wellsettled law by Mr. Justice Brown in Potts v. Creager, 155 U. S. 608, 15 Sup.Ct. 194, is found the reason .for such narrow patents, namely, that it might require as much exercise of inventive ingenuity to adapt a construction found in' one branch of the art to the varied requirements of another branch of the art as to originally inve.nt or devise a new construction. But when, as in this case, upon the face of the specification and claims, and through the file wrapper and correspondence with the patent office, the inventor has stated that he confines himself to the specific form shown, and when, furthermore, the prior art shows that upon any other theory the patent must be void for lack of patentable novelty, the patentee will not be permitted to extend the scope of his claim. Although the patent is for a bell for cars, no car bells were ever made under it, and the complainant now seeks to enjoin the defendants from using a similar construction for a bicycle bell. The bell itself is precisely the same in construction as the one which the court of appeals held to be void for want of patentable novelty, in New Departure Bell Co. v. Bevin Bros. Mfg. Co., 19 C. C. A. 534, 73 Fed. 469, except that in that case the bell was provided with a thumb piece, while in this case the patent covers a projecting cog wheel. That these parts are interchangeable or equivalent is shown in patent No. 500,951, applied for by the patentee of the patent in suit within one week after he filed his application for said patent, and by the history of said patents in the patent office, and by a great number of prior patents. Furthermore, the single claim of the patent in suit contains a mistake, which renders the meaning of the claim unintelligible except by altera· tion. Let the bill be dismissed. THE IRIS. (DIstrict Court, D. Massachusetts. No. 933.
June 23, 1898.)
1.
MAIUTIMB LIENS-REPAIRS AUTHORIZED BY OSTENSIBLE OWNER.
Where a vessel is sold, and, after part payment ot the purchase price, Is delivered to the purchasers, under the circumstances stated below, with authority to repair her at their own expense, the seller thereby invests the purchasers with power to create a lien for repairs made by persons without notice ot the vendor's title.
S.
BAME-INQUIRY AS TO TITLE.
Under the circumstances stated below, 8. repairer may rely on the apparent authority of the legal possessor and ostensible owner of a vessel to bind her tor necessary repairs, and need not Institute an inquiry Into her record title.
8.
LIEN GIVEN BY STATUTE-INTENT TO GIVE CREDIT TO VESSEL.
In determining it credit was given to the vessel or only to her owner, in the absence ot express agreement, regard will be had to the circumstances ot each case, Including the laws and usages ot the port In which the repairs were made.
THE IRIS.
903 PERSONAL LIABILITY 011'
to
REPAIRS AUTHORIZED BY OSTENSIBLB OWNER OW:"ER.
The owner of a vessel is not personally llable for repairs made in reliance on the ownersbip of one whom he had clothed with possession and apparent ownership.
Cmver &. Blodgett, for libelants. Charles 8. Hamlin, for respondent. LO\YEI.lL, Dish'ict Judge. The steamer Iris was the property of Mr. Woodworth, the claimant, and her home port was Boston. Having been laid up for several years, she was greatly out of repair, both as to her hull and her machinery. On December 23,1897, Woodworth agreed to sell her to the North American Mining & Transportation Oompany. A part payment of $1,000 was made at the time the agreement was signed, and the balance of the purchalile money, $6,000, was to be paid on or before February 21, 1898. By the agreement, the company was permitted to "make such alterations and repairs, such as painting and joiner work, etc., as may be necessary to put said vessel in pI'oper trim for a voyage to Alaska; to move her to some the above repairs, eto., proper place in Boston where sht' may at the expense of" the company. The agreement further provided that if the full purchase money was not paid by February 21, 1898, the company should forfeit whatever money had been paid; also, expenses incurred by it on repairs, etc., at that time. On February 21 a further part payment of $2,000 was made, and the time of final payment was extended to March 14. Before that time the company had become hopelessly insolvent, and the claimant thereupon retook the steamer. At various times in January and February the libelants made repairs on the steamer, and furnished her with supplies. They assert a lien under Pub. S1. Mass. c. 192, § 14 et seq. The claimant denies that the vessel is liable for the repairs. About January 4,1898, one Bartlett, a master mariner, was engaged by the company as master of the Iris, and was directed to cause her to be repaired so that she could make the proposed voyage to Alaska. The company gave him a letter, addressed to the claimant, which read as follows: "Please give Captain Bartlett an order for removing the Iris to Simpson's dry dock on our account." The claimant thereupon gave Capt. Bartlett an order, addressed to the custodian of the Iris, directing him to deliver the steamer Iris to the bearer, to be taken to East Boston. Capt. Bartlett took her to Simpson's dry dock aocordingly, procured a survey of her by the United States inspectors, and engaged the libelants to make the repairs, most of which were ordered by the inspedors. All the repairs made were reasonably necessary. Doubtless, they were more extensive than had been contemplated by the parties at the time the agreement was signed, and the nature of some of them lies outside the precise terms of the agreements; but they were necessary to carry out the general intent of the parties, the claimant was sufficiently informed of their nature as they were made, and he offered no objection to their execution. As against the libelants, he cannot now be heard to object that they were made in violation of the contract. By thus delivering the Iris into thP. charge of the company, and permitting it to employ the libelants id
904
88
FEDERAL REPORTER.
making repairs on the vessel without giving them notice of his title to the vessel, I think .that the claimant held out the company to the libelants as the owner of the vessel, so that, as between the libelants and the claimant, the company is to be taken as her owner. There is here no question of mortgagee's rights, and, as between the claimant and the company, the former is, of course, the true owner; but that the company was the owner of the vessel, at least in so far as to be able to create a lien upon her for repairs, seems to me the conclusion which a reasonable man in the libelants' position would draw from the claimant's conduct. Very extensive repairs were to be made. The execution of these repairs, under the statutes of Massachusetts, frequently gives rise to a lien. It was probable that some, at least, of the contractors would seek to hold the vessel for the amount of their bill. They understood, as Capt. Bartlett understood, that they had a lien. The understanding- was not the less definite because unexpressed. Capt. Crandall's understanding of the matter exemplifies the view of it which would be taken b.V a reasonable man. In the absence of notice, and under the circumstances of the case, a delivery of the vessel to the company seems to me a waiver of any objection against the creation of a lien by the company. It is argued that no representations were made by the claimant to the libelants. But it was the claimant's conduct, rather than his words, which constituted the rep['esentations; and this conduct, as the claimant should have for'eseen, naturaIly influenced the libelants' actions. Moreover, as will be shown, the claimant made several verbal representations to Cant. Bartlett, which representations, as might have been expected. determin,ed Bartlett's conduct to the libelants, andso affected the libelants' action. It may be said, of course, that the libelants should have inquired of the claimant. But few, if any, of them knew of his existence, and this ignorance of theirs the claimant must have known to be probable. Moreover, it is by no means clear that a visit to Mr. Woodworth would have enlightened anybody. A moment after he had given Capt. Bartlett the written order to the custodian of the vessel, Capt. Bartlett came back into his office, and asked if it was all right to make these repairs on the boat. Mr. Woodworth testified that he replied that he had nothing to do with the repairs; that he had sold the boat to the transportation company, which had paid a forfeit of $1,000, and had GO days in which to pay the balance; that his whole interest in the boat was to get the balance of the money, and see that she was not injured by the repairs; that he had given the transportation company permission to make the repairs at its own expense, so long as it did not injure the vessel. This is Mr. Woodworth's story. On the other hand, Capt. Bartlett and Mr. Ball, an engineer, testified tbat, in reply to Capt. Bartlett's question, Mr. Woodworth said that he might go ahead and make repairs, and that anything said by the agent of tbe transportation company was right. This conflict of testimony does not seem to me very important. Capt. Bartlett sought to learn if he might make repairs on the vessel as directed by the company. Mr. Wood· worth told him that he might do so, but that he (Woodworth) would not pay the bills, inasmuch as they were to be paid by the company
905
which bad bought the vessel. Even if Mr. Woodworth described to Capt Bartlett the contract of sale as precisely as Mr. Woodworth testified that he did, still I think he came short of indicating that the repairers were to have no Hen upon the vessel. He told Capt. Bartlett that he had sold the vessel to the company, and he did not add explicitly that the title to the vessel had not yet passed. Doubtless, a lawyer would have drawn from his words an inference to that effect, but it is not at all clear that a sailor would naturally do so. Mr. Woodworth desired to impress upon Capt. Bartlett that he (Woodworth) was not to be held personally liable for any work done on the vessel. That he made abundantly clear, but I do not think his language fairly suggested any intention to negative the company's right to create the lien which existed under the law of Massachusetts in the case of repairs made upon a vessel. In this interpretation of his language I am confirmed by an interview between the claimant and Capt. Crandall, the United States inspector. Capt. Crandall, who feared that a misunderstanding might exist concerning the lien of the libelants, went to Woodworth soon after the repairs were begun, and asked him if the steamer was reallv sold to the company, to which Mr. Woodworth replied in the affirmative. Capt. Crandall continued by explaining the reason of his questIon, saying that he did not know how it might turn out with ?Ill'. Woodworth if the company did not pay the bills. Capt. Crandall added that he knew that the libelants had the steamer to fajl back upon. and would naturally look to her for the payment of the bill. 1rr. Woodworth replied that it was understood that the company should fit up the vessel, but said nothing indicating any understanding on his part that his ownership was to defeat the usual lien. This conversation was brought to the notice of Capt. Bartlett, and naturally confirmed him in his belief that he had full power over the vessel. It is valuable, also, as indicating clearly what was Mr. Woodworth's conception of the whole transaction. I doubt if he ever gave the idea of a lien a moment's thought. Even the assertion by Capt. Crandall that a lien existed did not interest him. He was careful to assert to everyone that he was not to be held personally liable for the cost of the but he permitted everyone to assume that the lien existed. Not onl,Y, then, did theclaimant's conduct natmally lead the libelants to think that the company had a right to create a lien upon the Iris for the repairs executed, but the claimant himself, when questioned, gave a silent asspnt to that interpretation of the contract of sale. The view I have taken of the effect of the transaction is sustained by several decided cases, such as The John Farran, 14 lllatchf. 24, Fed. Cas. No. 7,341, reversing the decision of the court below; The James H. Prentice, 36 Fed. 777; The Alvira, 63 Fed. 144; The James Smith, 2 Pars. Shipp. & Adm. 146. In The H. C. Grady, 87 Fed. 232, the repairs, for the cost of which a lien was claimed against the vessel, were executed in part after the libelants knew that the person who had ordered the repairs, and into whose custody the vessel had been put, was not her owner. This knowledge was certainly sufficient to put the libelants upon inquiry. As to the remaining repairs, it is not stated plainly in the opinion if, at the time of their execution, tha
906
88 FEDERAL REPORTER.
libelants knew the claimant's relation to the vessel. From the facts which are stated, I am disposed to infer that the libelants did know it, or ought to have known it; and, if so, The H. C. Grady is entirely distingnishable from the case at bar. It is true that it is said in the opinion, at page 238, that the possession of the steam.er did not give ostensible authority to create a lien for repairs. In The H. C. Grady, as in The Valencia, 165 U. S. 264,17 Sup. Ct. 323, this may well have been true. Mere possession does not always give such authority, but, in the case at bar, possession, taken together with the other evidence in this case, seems to me to confer upon the possessor "ostensible authority." I need not here discuss the cases of which The Valencia is a type. In that case the supplies were furnished on the order of a charterer, and it was held that the circumstances put the libelant upon his inquiry as to the existence and terms of the charter party. See, also, 'l'he H. C. Grady, 85 Fed. 239. I can find nothing in this case to put the libelants on inquiry. It is true that, if they had gone to the registry, they would have found that Woodworth was the owner of the vessel; but I think they were justified in relying upon Woodworth's holding out the company as the owner of the Iris, without instituting an inquiry into the condition of her record title. If they were bound to go, then every repairer who contracts with the legal possessor and ostensible owner of a vessel takes his risk that the registry may disclose some defect in the possessor's title. Indeed, if the libelants had gone :to Woodworth himself, as has been already observed, it is improbable that they would have been undeceived. Assuming then, as between the libelants and the claimant, that the is to be taken as the owner of the vessel, at least so far as to be able to create a lien upon her for repairs, I must next consider if the libelants obtained that·lien. That they are within the terms of the statute, there can be no doubt; but, as was said in The Lottawanna, 21 Wall. 588, in order that this court .may enforce the statutory lien, not only must the requirements of the statute be complied with, but, in addition thereto, in order to bring the lien within the jurisdiction of a court of admiralty, credit must be given the vessel. Bee, also, The Valencia, 165 U. S. 264, 17 Sup. Ot. 323. In the case at bar it is clear that the libelants intended to credit to the vessel, and did this so far as they were able; that is, they consistently charged the repairs to the vessel, and looked to the vessel for reimbursement. It is also true that if they had applied to the company, which, in my opinion, must be held to be the owner of the vessel 80 far as they are concerned, that company would undoubtedly have expressly assented to the lien. This application, however, the libelants did not make. It is contended by the claimant that, while repairs made on the vessel at her home port may give a lien if it is expressly agreed to by both parties, yet the presumption is that no such lien exists, but that the credit is given solely to the owner,-in this case, the transportation company. By the civil law, a lien in favor of those who make repairs exists against both foreign and domestic vessels; and this apparently as a matter of strict right, and' not in consequence of a presumption that
907
such a lien has been agreed to in the particular case by the vessel's owner. LJrd Stowell has stated that this was once the law of England. See The Zodiac, 1 Hagg. Adm. 321, 325. And such apparently for some years the law was held to be in this district. See The George T. Kemp, 2 Low. 477, Fed. Cas. No. 5,341. In England the common-law courts have encroached so far upon the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty that the repairer has now no maritime lien, unless he has taken and retained possession of the vessel. See The Henrich Bjorn, 10 Prob. Div. 44,11 App. Cas. 270; The Marion, 1 Story, 68, Fed. Cas. No. 9,087. In the United States the maritime lien of the repairer exists in full force, if the repairs are made on the credit of a foreign vessel; and, in the absence of the owner, it is said that repairs made upon a foreign vessel are presumed to have been made upon its credit. But if the owner be present, though in a foreign port, it has been said that there is a presumption that the repairs were made, not on the credit of the vessel, but on the credit of the owner personally. Thomas v. Osborn, 19 How. 22. The presence of the owner does not, however, defeat the lien as a matter of law, but at most does no more than establish a presumption of fact that the lien does not attach. See The Kalorama, 10 Wall. 204. This presumption that a lien does not exist for repairs made upon a foreign vessel, if the owner be present, is, in different decided cases, rested upon one or more of three grounds: First. It has been said that, if the owner be in the port, the master of the vessel has no implied authority to bind either him or his vessel. This proposition seems in general to be sound; for, in so important a matter, the repairer, if he wishes to bind the master's principal, should apply to the principal himself. Where the owner is absenf, the master of the vessel has very extraordinary authority; but, where the owner is present, it is but reasonable to hold that the master's authority is much curtailed. "Undoubtedly the presence of the owner defeats the implied authority of the master." The Kalorama, 10 Wall. 204, 214. If, however, the owner himself authorizes the repairs, no question of the master's authority is involved; and, if the owner expressly or impliedly assents that the repairs shall be made on the credit of the vessel, the vessel is bound. Thus, it is said in The Kalorama: "When the owner is present, the implied authority of the master for that purpose ceases; but, if the owner gives directions to that etrect, the master may well order necessary repairs and supplies, and, If the ship Is at the time in a foreign port, .. .. .. those who make the advances will have a maritime lIen, If they were made on the credit of the vessel." 10 Wall. 213.
Second. It has been said that, when the owner is present in a foreign port, the repairer has ordinarily no lien upon the vessel, because in such cal.'!e the repairer is presumed not to care for a lien upon the vessel, but to be satisfied with the personal liability of the owner. This state of mind on the part of the repairer is a question of fact In The George T. Kemp, Judge Lowell says that he never heard of a repairer who was satisfied with the owner's personal liability, but perhaps that is stating the rule too strongly. If the contract for repairs be duly authorized and binding upon the owner, however, a
908
8S FEDERAL REPORTER.
lien upon the vessel wiII exist, if the of the case show that there was an understanding that the repairs should be made on the vessel's credit. The question to whom or to what credit is given should be answered after consideration of all the facts, including the usages and laws of the country where the port is situated. Third. It is said in not a few cases that the lien of the repairer is conditioned upon a necessity for pledging the credit of the vessel in order to prosecute the voyage, and that this necessity is presumed not to exist when the owner is present in the port. However it may be historically, the statement is now incorrect or meaningless. In the absence of the owner, the necessity is conclusively presumed; and be present, and abundantly supplied with money, though the his a6"t'eement to a lien will bind the vessel. These three different principles. according to which it is held to be presumed that there is no lien when the owner of a foreign vessel is present in port, have been stated indiscriminately as if they were identical, yet plainly the nature of the presumption will differ greatly according as it depends upon one or another of them. It seems, on the whole, that in the United States a repairer has a lien on a foreign vessel, if the repairs were made on the vessel's credit; that, if the owner was absent from the port where the repairs were ordered by the master, there is a presumption of fact that the master had authority to order them, and that credit was given to the vessel. Where the owner is present, he must order the repairs himself, or authority from him to order the repairs must be shown. Where he has ordered them himself, or due authorit.v from him is shown, the execution of the repairs will or will not be deemed to give rise to a lien, according to the facts of the case, including the laws and usages of the port. These principles of maritime law applicable to liens upon foreign wessels have now to be applied to liens upon domestic vessels given by ;statute. These last liens are enforceable in the courts of the United :States, and in those courts only. The Lottawanna, 21 vValL 558; The -Glide, 167 U. S. 606, 17 Sup. Ct. 930. In order that a lien may attach, not only must the terms of the statute be strictly complied with, but the libelant must show that credit was given to the vessel. The Lottawanna, 21 'Vall., at page 581. The repairing a domestic vessel has :been likened to the repairing a foreign vessel whose owner is present dn the port; and it has been said that in the case of a domestic vessel there is a presumption that the repairs were not made on the credit lof the vessel, and that there is therefore a presumption that the lien does not exist. As in the case of a foreign vessel, so in the case of a domestic vessel. If the presumption be taken to mean that the authority o,f the master of a domestic vessel to contract for her repair cannot always be presumed, the statement is reasonable. The owner of a domestic vessel in some cases must be sought out, and t}:le authority ,of the master to bind him will not be presumed as readily as in the .case of a foreign vessel whose owner is absent; but where the master had authority to order the repairs, or where they were ordered directly by the owner, it seems that credit is to be deemed to have been given to the vessel, or to the owner personally, or to both, according to the laws and usages of the domestic port, and the circumstances of the
'I'llE UUS.
909
particular case. That a lien upon a foreign vessel is not conditioned upon a necessity to pledge the vessel's credit has been shown, and it may safely be said that a necessity for pledging the vessel's credit has nothing to do with a lien upon a domestic vessel, except, perhaps, as evidence that credit was given to the vessel rather than to the owner. It is tolerably plain that the purpose of the statute was not so much to aid a domestic vessel in distress as to protect the repairer. In The Valencia, 165 U. S. 264, 271, 17 Sup. Ct. 323, it is said, indeed, that: "In the absence of an agreement, express or Implied, for a lien. a contract for supplies made directly with tL owner in person is to be taken as made on his ordinary responsibility. without a view to the vessel as the fund from which compensation is to be derived."
In The Valencia, however, the real dispute was concerning the authority of the person ordering the supplies, and the remark above quoted was made obiter. That an agreement for a lien, expressed or implied, is necessary, there can, of course, be no doubt. The qnestion to be answered is this: From what facts is a lien to be implied? In The Valencia, the law, usages, and circumstances may well have been difIerent from those in the case at bar. In the case of 'l'he S1. Jago de Cuba, 9 Wheat. 409, 416, 417, also, from the opinion in which a part of the above-cited extract from The Valencia is quoted, the expressions relied on by the claimant were made obiter. It must be added that a lien in favor of any material man or la borer is, by reason of the numerous statutes which have given such liens, much less in derogation of common custom than it was 75 years ago, when The St. Jago de Cuba was decided. This change of law may well modify a presumption of fact which was properly drawn under other conditions. Applying the principles above stated to the facts of this case and having assumed, for the reasons first given, that the transportation company is to be treated as the owner of the Iris, we find that the repairs were made upon her, and the supplies furnished, by the order of Capt. Bartlett. It has not been suggested in argument that Capt. Bartlett did not have full power to bind the company for the materials, repairsJ and supplies, and it is admitted that the company is itself liable for them to the libelants. Inasmuch as the laws of Massachusetts give a lien generally in these cases, which fact must be presumed to have been known to all parties concerned, and inasmuch as the custom of repairers is to look to the vessel for credit, I think it is not going too far to hold that in this case credit was given by the libelants to the Iris without the objection, and with the assent, of the company. There must therefore be a decree for the libelants. The conclusion is the more satisfactory because any other would do great injustice. That the claimant, who owned on January 1 a thoroughly unseaworthy vessel, should on April 1, without the expenditure of a cent, own a thoroughly seaworthy vessel, and $3,000 to boot, while those whose labor repaired the vessel go without pay, is a conclusion which should be escaped, if escape is in any way legal. , The ,claimant has filed a petition to have his stipulation canceled upon t.he ground that it is for a larger amount t.J1an the true value of
910
the steaiD.er.' 'As the claimant entered into the stipulation deliberately, and without objection to its amount, his error in valuation is not a sufficient reason for cancellation. The claimant also has asked that his liability be limited to the value of the steamer, or, rather, to the amount of his stipulation. Olearly, the libelants have no right to a decree against the claimant in personam. It has been held, that they have a lien upon the vessel, because the claimant held out to them the transportation company as its owner; but it would be highly unjust to permit the libelants to deny the claimant's ownership for the purpose of maintaining their lien, and in the same action to assert his ownership for the purpose of holding him personally liable. Oapt. Bartlett had in fact no authority to bind the claimant personally, and no one of the libelants ever supposed that he had. He had authority only to bind the com.pany, and to create a lien upon the vessel. The fact that the vessel is liable does not conclusively establish the liability of her owner. See Henry, Adm. Jur. & Prac. §42; The Freeman v. Buckingham, 18 How. 182; The Alvira, 63 Fed. 144, 145.
THE FRED M. LAWRENCE. (DIstrict Court, E. D. New York. May 27, 1898.)
ADMffiALTY PRACTICE-SUITS IN REM-RELEASE BOND-ADDITIONAL SECURITY.
Under the admiralty rules of the district court for the Eastern district of New York, where theorlglnal sureties In a stipulation for the release of a vesselin an action In rem have beC'9me Insolvent the court may order the security to be strengthened, and, In default of obedience to such order, may strike out the claimant's answer, and allow libelant to have a decree, enforceable against the claimant and such sureties, to the same extent as would be proper if no Issue had been raised on the merits.
This was a libel in rem by the Union Marine Insurance Oompany, Limited, against the steam ca.nal boat Fred M. Lawrence. Oarpenter & Mosher, for libelant. Hyland &ZabI'iskie, for claimant. THOMAS, District Judge. The question involved on this motion is this: May the court order the security given on the valuation of a vessel seized in an action in rem, to secure the release thereof, to be strengthened, upon the ortginal sureties becoming insolvent; and, in default of obedience to such order, may the claimant's answer be stricken out, and the libelant allowed to have a decree, enforceable against the claimant and such sureties, to the same extent as would be proper if no issue had been raised on the merits? The Revised Statutes (section 913) authorize the district court to make rules, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States, relative to forms and modes of procedure. Pursuant to this power, the .court of this' district has established certain rules, stating under what conditions a. vessel seized in an action in rem will be surrendered to a' claimant thereof, and the alleged lien of the libelant thereon be released. These rules provide that such result may be et-
THE FRED M. LAWRENCE.
911
fected by tbe libelant giving a stipulation with sureties, as required, and that "such stipulation shall contain the consent of the stipulators, that in case of default or contumacy on the part of the princi]'Jftls or 8ureties, execution to the amount named in such stipulation may issue against the goods, chattels and lands of the stipulators." Rule 23 provides: "In all cases of stipulations in civil and admiralty causes, any party having an Interest In the subject matter may at any time on two days' notice, move the court on special cause shown for greater or better security; and any order made thereon may be enforced by attachment, or otherwise."
With such rules in existence, the libelant and his sureties, with presumptive knowledge thereof, executed a stipulation as follows: ... · · And whereas, a claim to said vessel has been tiled by Elizabeth E. Hickok, as owner, and the value thereof has been fixed by consent at thirtyfour bundred dollars, as appears from said consent Indorsed hereon and now on file In said court, and the parties hereto hereby consenting and agreeing that, In case of default or contumacy on the part of the claimant or her sureties, execution for the above agreed value, with Interest thereof from this date, may Issue against their goods, chattels, and lands: Now, therefore, the condition of this stipulation Is such that If the stipulators undersigned shall at any time, upon the Interlocutory or final order or decree of the said district court, or of any appellate court to which the above-named suit may proceed, and upon notice of such order or decree to Hyland & Zabriskie, Esquires, proctors for the claimant of said steam canal boat, abide by and pay the money awarded by the final decree rendered by this court or the appellate court If any appeal Intervene, then this stipulation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue."
Thereupon such stipulation was tendered, and the court was asked to accept it as a consideration for the release of the vessel, and in substitution thereof. The sole purpose and object of the stipulation is to obtain the release of the vessel to the claimant. As the court no longer holds the vessel in trust for the satisfaction of any judgment that may be recovered by the libelant, and as the vessel cannot be reseized, only recourse to the stipulation can be had to secure the payment of such judgment. Hence the stipulation should be sufficient at the outstart, and its sufficiency should be maintained. Rule 23 authorizes the court to require "!-,Tfeater or better security" at any time, the stipulation is executed and delivered in contemplation of such rule, and the rule impliedly becomes a part of the stipulation. The stipulation is merely given in place of the res, and takes the place of a fund or property applicable to the payment of a decree in libelant's favor. The court, in effect, rules: "If the claimant, with sufficient sureties, will give a stipulation conditioned that the claimant shall obey any lawful order or decree of the court In the action, the res may be released, and an order that 'greater or better security' be given, shall be a lawful order, within the meaning of this rule; and such terms of the court shall be deemed accepted by the claimant and his sureties, by the giving of such stipulation."
This does not mean that the valuation of the res may be increased; that is fixed once for all; but the court may direct that the security based upon such valuation be strengthened. Now, the stipulation is given in accordance with rules of court; greater or better security may be ordered at any time; and, in default of compliance with this
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direction, the same rule authorizes the court to enforce the order ('by attachment or otherwise"; and it has been held that this includes power to strike out the answer, if one has been interposed. The Virgo, 13 Blatchf. 255, Fed. Cas. No. 16,976; The City!>f Hartford, 11 Fed. 89. That this is a just exercise of power, binding on the sure· ties, appears from this. The stipulation is not given to enable the claima.nt to appear, or appear and answer. It is simply given to obtain a release of the res. The claimant may answer, whether the stipulation for the "alue of. the res be or be not given. If he answer, the court may strike out the answer if the claimant fail to comply with its lawful order. The rules and the stipulation contemplate such a:ction by the court. With the answer stricken out, the case proceeds to judgment as if no answer had been filed; and the sureties are then called upon, to the extent of their liability, to discharge the judgment. The sureties did not contract that they would be obligated to pay any claim of the libelant that should be established after answer filed, and a final determination of the issue thus raised in behalf of the claimant. Their liability was the same whether judgment went by default or after trial. The stipulation was to pay any judgment which the court had power to order. Certainly the court had to order the claimant to give additional security, and in default thereof to strike out the answer, and thereafter leave the libelant to make proof of his claim, and, if he did so, to order a judgment therefor. Such a is a lawful judgment, and the stipulators agreed to pay all lawful judgments, up to the amount of the valuation of the property. This conclusion is logical; accords with the rules of the court, and with the very terms of the stipulation. However, it is just that the sureties should have an opportunity to protect themselves. Hence, if the claimant fail to observe the order of the court for greater or better security, the sureties should have an opportunity to fulfill the order. In the present case the sureties may furnish such sufficient security within 10 days from the entry of an order pursuant to this opinion, .and thereupon a trial of the issues raised· by the libel and the claimant's answer may be had at such time as the court shall direct. Otherwise the answer will be deemed stricken out, and the libelant may proceed in the action as if no answer had been interposed.
TERRE HAUTE 41: I. R. CO. V. HARRISON.
il13
TERRE HAUTE & I. R. 00. v. HARRISON et aI. (Circuit C<lurt of Appeals, Seventh CIrcuit. No. 461. March I, 1898.)
PRIORITY OF RAILROAD MORTGAGE- OPERATING AGREEMENT-EQUITABLE LIEN FOR BETTERMENTS.
A railroad company In possession of a branch line under an operating agreement wherein It agreed to take up, and hold as security, a mortgage thereon, cannot, acquIre an equitable lien, prior to the mortgage, on any part of the mortgaged property, for betterments thereto, or for any balance due it on an accounting with the mortgagor. Where a branch line, held by a railroad company under an Invalid operating agreement, was, with the consent of such company, mortgaged by the Owner to procure money to build an extension and pay for additional equipments, all of which were delivered to, and for years used by, said company under said agreement, such company was not entitled to an equitable lien, prior to such mortgage, for betterments added to the property, either prIor or subsequent to the date of the mortgage.
Il. SAME-INVALIDITY OF OPERATING AGREEMENT-EQUITABLE LIEN FOR BETTERMENTS.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Indiana. Appellee Benjamin HarrIson, trustee, on December 30, 1896, exhibited his bill in the circuit court of the United States for the district of Indiana agail'st his co-appellee, the Terre Haute & Logansport Hailroad Company, and lhis appellant. He sought to foreclose a deed of trust wherein his co-appellee had alienated to him on January 1, 1883, certain railroad property to seCllre the payment of bonds of that company aggregating $1,000,000, with interest to be paid semiannually at-the rate of () per cent. per annum. The bill was taken as confessed against the Terre Haute & Log'ausport Railroad Company. Appellant answered, and filed Its cross bill. Exceptions were sustained to certain portions of the answer, the cross bill was dismissed fur wilnt of equity on demurrer, a final decree of foreclosure went in favor of appellee Harrison, and appellant brings the record here on appeal. On November 1, 1879, the Terre Haute & Logansport Railroad Company owned a line of railroad from Rockville to Logansport, In Indiana. It also held a road from Hockville south to Terre Haute, under a long lease from the owner, the Evansville & Terre Haute Hailroad Company. This property, together with all other property whieh the appellee railway company then had or might thereafter acquire for use in connection with said railroad, was Oil that oay alienated to Benjamin Harrison, trustee, to secure coupon honds aggregating $500,000, payable January 1, 1910, with Interest to be paid semiannually at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. Appellant then owned and op,'rared a line of railway from Indianapolis westward through Terre H'l1Ite to the Illinois state line. Under date of l"ovemher :t2, 1S79, the Terre Hau'e & Logansport Railroad Company, as party of the first part, and appellant, as party of the second part, made the follOWing agreement: "Operating Contract between Terre Haute and Logansport Railroad Company and Terre Haute and Indianapolis Hailroad Company, umler datt' of November 2'2nd, 1t!79, for Ninety-Nine Years from December 1st, 1S7l:l. "This Ind'enture, made this twenty-second day of November, A. D. 1879, by and between the Terre Haute and Logansport Railroad Company, a corporatIon of Indiana, party of the first part, and the Terre Haute anrl Indlanap')lis Railroad Company, likewise a corporation of Indiana, party of the second part, witnesseth: Whereas, the party of the first part Is the owner of and Is operatIng a line of railroad extending from Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, to Logansport, Cass county, Indiana, and, under a contract with the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad Company, Is In possessIon of and operating a rallB8F,-58