FIBCH1J:R V. HAYES.
4:69
FISCHER
v.
HAYES.
SAME V · NEIL.
Sum v.
SHAUGNESSY
and others. April 12, 1883.)
(Oircuit Court, 8. D. New York. 1. PATENTB-MAS'rER's REPOR'r-ExcEPTIONS.
Where a master had notified the rcspective attorneys that the draft reports were rcady for tbeir inspection, and verbal objections were made before him to his findings, but said objections were not reduced to writing and filed, and the exceptions to the master's report are substantially the same as the verbal objections, it will be sulticient if the objections are reduced to writing and filed with the master nwnc po tunc.
2.
SAME-EvIDENCE-PRODUCTION OF BOOKS.
Where a master, to whom a reference has bcen made to ascertain the profits made by defendant in the use of an infringing machine, was unable to determine the length of time the said machine was used by defendant, and such inability could have been obviated by an examination of defendant's books, and plaintiff neglected to obtain an order compelling their production after defendant refused to produce them, the case will not be sent back to the masLoJ.' fOl' review.
Exceptions to Report of Master. Edmund Wetnwre, for plaintiff. J. H. Whitelegge, for defendant. SHIPMAN, J. The plaintiff has filed ereptions to the master's report in each of these three cases, and in each case the defenda.nt insists that the exceptions cannot be heard, because no written objections were filed to the draft reports. It appears from the certificate of the master that the respective counsel were notified that the draft reports were ready for their inspection and suggestions, whereupon tiley appeared before him; that the plaintiff's counsel verbally objected to certain findings; and that the written exceptions which have been filed are substantially the same as the verbal objections which were presented to him when the draft reports were Bubmitte4. The plaintiff's practice was faulty, in that the verbal objections were not reduced to writing and were not filed with the master. It will be sufficient if they are now reduced to writing in substantially the form in which they appear in the exceptions, and are filed with the master nunc pro tunc. The Hayes and Neil cases present the same state of facts. In each case the master has found the extent of the use of the respective infringing machines by the respective defendants; but, in each case,
470
FEDERAL REPORTER.
has also found that the evidence fails to establish a satisfactory and reliable basis for computing the profits realized by the defendant, or the savings made by him by reason of his use of the plaintiff's device. No damages were claimed. The plaintiff has excepted, in various forms, to the master's findings in regard to profits. My examination of the record in each of these cases satisfies me of the correctness of the master's findings upon the evid'ence as presented, and that the testimony on the part of the plaintiff, without reference to the defendant's testimony, was not such as to furnish a satisfactory and reliable basis for computing the defendant's savings or profits. But 1 ,am also impressed with the idea that, if these tWG cases should 'be finally disposed of at this stage, and with a decree based upon such scanty and unsatisfactory evidence, certail).ly an unsatisfactory, and, possibly, incorrect, result would be reachtld. I do not say that I am satisfied that profits were made, but lam of opinion that, if they were made, evidence can be furnished which will give the master and the court a satisfactory method of ascertaining 'howmuch they were. The plaintiff's counsel say that they can furnish other proofs. Separate orders will be entered, each order providing that the appropriately-entitled case shall be sent back to the master for review, with liberty to the plaintiff to introduce, within six weeks from the date of the order, such additional admissible te.stimony as he shall think proper to introduce, but solely on the question of the savings or the profits of the defendant from the use of the infringing chines during the time already found by the master; the defendant to have liberty to introduce additional admissible testimony upon: the same subject within and before the expiration of four weeks from the time when the plaintiff rests, always provided, and the liberty to the plaintiff to be upon the express condition, that before the expil'ation of 10 days from the date of the order the sum of $150 shall be paid to the defendant, through his attorney of record, as the terms upon which this permission is granted. 1 think that each defendant has been subjected to this expense in the preparation and printing of the briefs, and the argument upon the objections and the exceptions. The case against Shaugnessy and Simpson rests upon different grounds. As, in the other cases, the master states his inability to find, from the plaintiff's testimony, a satisfactory and reliable means by which to compute the profits of the defendant, and also that he is unable to find for how much time they used the infringing machines. It is plain thttt, in the opinion of the master, the latter inabilit.-
M'MURRAY
MILLER.
471
might, perhaps, have been obviated by an examination onhe defendant's books, which they refused to produce upon the ground that the books would throw no light upon the extent of the use. This refusal took place on August 12, 1881; the examination was not finished un.' til February 23, 1882. No effort was made by the plaintiff to compel the production of the books, probably because he thought that they would not furnish satisfactory evidence, and the hearing w.ent on with but little aid from other witnesses in regard to the extent of the defendant's infringement. This case should not be returned to the master, it being apparent that the facts in regard to the use can. not be found with accuracy, unless by the aid of the defendant's books, and the plaintiff having had an abundant opportunity to ask for an order for their production and inspection, if he had wanted to see them. The exceptions in this case are overruled, and the report is confirmed. -
·
McMURRAY 'V. MILLER
and another. May 16, 1883.) ' "
PATENTS ,
,
Fon
115,760 As the improvement claimed in patent No. 115,760, granted to :McMurray and Hollingsworth, June 6, 1871, for an improvement in soldering tools, is merely the result of mechanical skill and oat invention, and the improved device is substantially identical with that for which patent No. 104,412 was granted to J.-A. 'Bostwick, June 21, 1870, the patent granted to McMurray and Hollings. worth is void.
INVENTIONS -IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLDERING TOOL VOID,
PATENT
No.
In Equity. Benjamin Price and Archibald Stirling, Jr., for complainants. , Sebastian Brown, for defendant. .- . . WAITE, Chief Justice. 'This is a suit in equity to restrain an alleged infringement of a patent issued to Louis McMiuray and BO,bert' J. Hollingsworth, on the sixth of June, 1871, No. 115,760, for "certain' improvements in soldering toot" The invention cODsisted an improvement in the construction of the soldering tool for ters patent were granted to J.A. Bostwick o'n June 21, 1'870, by prothrough which viding the soldering iron with a vertical hollow the presser-rod plays, gllidedin the handle of the stem, as "'illba generally explained in the following description, and specifically
a
"in
n
_
