, 856
FEDERAL REPORTER.
Suppose that to be so, unless it can be alleged and proved, inelimi· nating the difference between the operation of the defendant and that of the plaintiff, the substantial invention of the plaintiff remains, then the defendant would not be liable. r have already said that this case is not free from difficulty. r have proceeded on the assumption which the law makes, that the plaintiff, prima facie, is an inventor, and with that assumption, in connection with the evidence, it is doubtful whether he is the inventoi' which he claims to be. Then, when we come to the question of infringement, the onus is changed: it is incumbent on the plaintiff to prove clearly and satisfactorily that there has been an infringement. It is an affirmative fact which it is incumbent on the plaintiff to prove, and I do not think that has been done in this case. It is often. very difficult, when we take the state of the art into account. where there has been some little thing done which has produced important consequences, to say where the precise line of demarkation is between what is old and what is new. That is one, of the difficulties in this case. The line between what is old and what is new has not been so distinctly and clearly marked out by the plaintiff as it ought to have been, and that is very important where the change is what may be called a-slight one. Where some new and important principle has been discovered, which strikes the mind of everyone as something of great vallie, there is no difficulty. Difficulty arises only where the change made by the inventor is inconsiderable. It cannot be questioned that the plaintiff in this case has bestowed much labor in completing the operations for which he claims a patent. He had a serious struggle in obtaining his patent. He did not seem to know certainly what he had discovered; what was, in fact, the invention 'for which he claimed a patent. It was only after repeated applications and amendments and changes that the patent was granted. Bill dismissed.
AVERY
and another v. WILSON.
(Oircuit Oourt, W. D. North Oarolina. June Term, 1884.) 1. PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS-REMEDIES-CONCURRENCE OF EQUITY AND LAW.
In cases of patent infringement the statutes of the United States have con· ferred original and concurrent jurisdiction upon courts of equity, and they may determine, without the assistance of courts of law, the legal rIghts of the plaintiff lind the infringement of the defendant, and may ascertain the amount of loss and damage by taking an account of the defendant's profits, and atIonl a complete remedy for the wrong committed, and prevent its continuance by injunction.
2. SAllIE-LUNACY OF INFRJ:l'IGER-ACCOUNT-INJUNCTION-COSTS. The defendant having admitted the infringement, but pleaded the fact of his lunacy at the time of the commission of it, the court decrees a perpetual injuuc-
AVERY V. WILSON.
857
tion on account of the profits obtained by the defendant through tho infringement, as well as costs in favor of the plaintiff.
S.
SAME-MAINTENANOE OF LUNA'l'IC.
Equity's superintendence and care is only exercised during the period of mental IncapacIty, when the lunatic is unable to provide maintenance for himself and family. After the restoration of such person to a condition of sanity, the courts cannot properly allow the expense of past maintenance, although his incapacity for self-support and the incidental expenses necessarily incurred during the lunacy had greatly diminished his estate, and the damages claimed were caused by him while he was a lunatic. An account ordered as to such damage cannot take the past maintenance of the lunatic into consideration, after the establishment of his sanity. INTERMEDIATE PROCEEDINGs-DISCRETION OF
4.
SAME-EQUITY-COSTS IN COURTS.
Courts of equity having a large discretion in matter of costs, frequently give costs in intermediate stages of a cause, without waiting for a final decree.
In Equity. Jones et Johnston, for plaintiff. JOB. H. Wiloon et Son, for defendant. DICK, J. This cause was set for hearing at this term by consent of parties. The proofs establish the fact that the plaintiffs are the owners of the patent-right as claimed. The defendant, in his answer, admits the infringement alleged, but insists by way of defense that he was a lunatic at the time of the tortious acts complained of, and had been so ascertained and declared by the proper inquisition of a jury. Since this finding, and before the commencement of this suit, another jury, upon inquisition, have found that he had become sane and was capable of attending to his business affairs. As a general rule, a person non compos mentis is not responsible for crime, and a jury must detei'mine the question whether the party accused had a sufficient degree of reason to know that the act which he did was wrong. There must be a criminal intent in doing an act in order to constitute crime, and a want of reason is generally evidence of a want of intent. The law presumes every man to be responsible for his acts until the contrary is shown to the satisfaction of a jury. As a general rule, a person of unsound mind cannot make a binding contract, as capacity for consent is an essential element in such a transaction. In some instances-like in the case of infancy -the question whether the contract of a lunatic is valid, void, or voidupon the purpose and object of the contract, and the circumstances attending the transaction. A lunatic is often civilly liable for his torts, as he is not entirely exempt from the general doctrine of the law, that, whenever one person receives an injury directly from the voluntary act of another, that is a trespass, although there was no design to injure. This general rule has been modified by exceptions made by the constructions of the courts in the case of lunacy, and upon this subject there is some conflict of decisions. The current of authority seems to establish the doctrine that a lunatic is not liable for injuries to the sensibilities and reputation of a person, as in such cases malice is an essential ingredient to the tort; as libel, slander,
858
FEDERAL REPORTE&
malicious prosecution, and malicious arrest under rElgular process. A person non comp08 mentis is regarded by the law as incapable of a wicked intention to do such injuries. There are other cases of injuries to the person by a lunatic about which there is some conflict of decision, as assaults, 'batteries, false imprisonment, etc., in which a wrongful intent or culpable negligence are ingredients. In batteries there must always bean intent, express or implied, to do the injury; and legal malice is always presumed when a wrongful act is done intentionally, without just cause or excuse. Express malice is some 'manifestation of ill-will to a person, or an evil design or corrupt motive in doing an act which is injurious to another. In this second ,class of torts many plausible arguments may be used on both sides in sustaining opposing views. These torts to the person are embraced in the legal maxim, "actio personalis moritur cum persona." 'rheyare torts committed by force, and are usually prompted by sudden passion or vindictive feelings, and in many cases large punitive damages are properly assessed by a jury against the tort-feasors. As the wrongful intent and motive of the wrong-doer are the usual and substantial grievance complained of, and punitive damages are generally assessed, I am of opinion that actions for such torts should not be sustained against lunatics, as thAy are incapable, from want of reason, of such intent and motive, unless substantial damages, capable of ready estimation, have been suffered. In no case can vindictive damages be assessed against a person non compos mentis. This liberality of the law to this unfortunate class of persons can work no serious injury to society, as they can be legally confined when considered dangerous; and the disposition, power, and right of self-defense will generally be sufficient to insure the personal safety and security of the citizen against the unreasoning and mo· tiveless action of an imbecile. Injuries to property, corporeal and in()orporeal, constitute a third class of torts, in which it is generally conceded that lunatics are responsible for compensatory damages to the extent of the actual injury sustained. Some of these injuries are often prompted by malice towards the owner, or are done in a spirit of wantonness, cruelty, and revenge, as in the case of malicious mischief at the common law, and malicious injuries to property defined by statute. In such a sane person is liable to indictment, and also to an action for the civil mjury, and punitive damages will generally be recovered. A lunatic can only be made liable for compensatory damages. In civil actions for violation and encroachment upon established rights of property, the law does not 80 much regard the intent of the wrong-doer as the 108s and damage of the person injured. In this case the defendant is charged with the infringement of an incorporeal right conferred by law upon the plaintiffs. A patentright is the exclusive liberty conferred by letters patent from the tlovereign on an inventor or his alienee of making and vending ar·
AVERY t1. WILSON.
859
ticles according to his invention. A patent-right is regarded as personal property, and may be assigned; and, if it be infringed, the inventor or his alienee has a remedy at law by action of trespass on the case for damages, and a remedy in equity to prevent the continuance of the wrong by injunction. Ad. Eq. 212. In such cases the statutes of the United States have conferred original and concurrent jurisdiction upon courts of equity, and they may determine, without the assistance of a court of law, the legal right of the plaintiff and the infringement by the defendant; and may ascertain the amount of loss and damage by taking an account of the defendant's property, and afford a complete remedy for the wrong committed, and prevent its continuance by injunction. As the proof in this case establishes the legal right of the plaintiffs, and the infringement is admitted by the defendant, the plaintiffs are entitled to a perpetual injunction, and to an account to ascertain the profits derived by the defendant from his infringement. The counsel of the defendant insist that the order of reference should direct the master to ascertain and report the amount of expenses incnrred in the maintenance of the defendant during the period of his lunacy subsequent to the infringement, and that the same may be allowed by the master in estimating the amount of profits received. It is true, as stated by counsel, that courts of equity, as representatives of the sovereign, have, within the local limits of their jurisdiction, a general superintendence and care over lunatics and their estates, and will not allow creditors to have satisfaction of their debts out of such estates until provision is made for reserving a sufficient amount for the comfortable maintenance of a lunatic, and his wife and minor children. Adams v. Thomas, 81 N. C. 296, and cases cited. This superintendence and care, however, is only exercised during the period of mental incapacity, when the unfortunate lunatic is unable to provide maintenance for himself and family. After the restoration of such person to a condition of sanity the court cannot properly allow the expenses of past maintenance, although his incapacity for self-snpport, and the incidental expenses necessarily incurred during the period of lunacy, had greatly diminished his estate, and the damages claimed were caused by him while he was a lunatic. The counsel of defendant object to costs being allowed in the preliminary decree granting a perpetual injunction, and directing a reference to the master to take and state an account of the profits received by the defendant by reason of his admitted infringements. It is true, as insisted by the counsel, that this is not a final decree, as the cause must be heard for further directions on the report of the master; and the hearing of the cause on further directions is generally the occasion for determining the question of costs. Humiston v. St(tinthorp, 2 Wall. 106. Courts of equity, however, having a large
860
discretion in matters of costs, frequently give costs in intermediata stages of a cause, without waiting for the final decree. Ad. Eq. 889; 2 Daniell, Ch. Pro 1457. This discretion can be properly ex. ercised in giving to the prevailing party the incidental costs which have arisen during the progress of a cause about a matter completely disposed of by the court, and not necessary to be considered on further directions. In this case, the facts appearing in the evidence and the pleadings being deeemed sufficient by the court for granting a perpetual injunction, which disposes of that part of the relief asked for in the bill, I am of the opinion that the costs incident to that proceeding should be allowed the plaintiff in the decree for a perpetual injunction. Let a decree be drawn in conformity to this opinion.
THE PiLOT. (Distrio: Court, E. D. Virginia. June 30,1884.) COLLISION-PILOT.BoATS-STEAMER-SCHOONEH-BRIG-FAULT.
Two pilot-boats, one of them a steamer, the other a sailing schooner, make for a ship, coming from sea into the capes of Chesapeake bay, to offer pllot service. The schooner crosses the bow of the ship, and meets her on the leeward, approaching within 50 feet of her. The pilot steamer approaches the ship on the windward, and, when within 300 feet, passes off by the ship's stel'll. In less than half a mi nute after the ship passes from between the two pilot vessels they collide. The schooner is damaged and sunk. and libels thc steamer. Held, that each of the pilot vessels had a right to approach the ship in open sea, for the purpose of proffering pilot service, as these vessels had done, and that the steamer was not in fault in being where she was in lawful pursuit of her calling. Held, on all the proofs in the cause, that the collision which occured was not by fault of the pilot steamer; and this the· more true, as the schooner, when the collision was seen to be almost inevitable, made a maneuver which was the direct cause of it, and which rendered it absolutely inevitable.
In Admiralty, on a Libel for Collision. Sharp ct Hughes, for libelants. W. Pinckney White and Floyd Hughes, for respondents. HUGHES, J. The licensed pilots of Chesapeake bay and Hampton roads are a high grade of seamen, having duties and powers of great responsibility. They are relied upon for the safety of many lives and much property. A court is naturally disposed, not only to give credence to the statements of such a class of officers made on oath for its information, but to place great reliance upon them. Yet I find the evidence in this case, which is almost exclusively that of pilots, exceptionally contradictory, conflicting, confusing, and inac-
THE PILOT.
861
curate. I think that taken by libelants much more SO, in the main, than that taken by the respondents. , Many of the statements of witnesses have to be rejected outright. It is not my duty-I cannot be expected-to go through this testimony in an effort to separate what is obviously incredible from what may be credible. I have no talisman by which to perform this task with any promise of success. I must grope my way to a decision of this case under the disadvantages imposed by a mass of conflicting and inconclusive testimony. On the third of July, one year ago, a brigantine was making in from the ocean, in broad day, to p-nter the capes of the Chesapeake. She was on a course W. by S. The wind was a good breeze from S. S. E. The two pilot-boats Graves and Pilot made towards her to offer pilot service. The Graves was a schooner of 75 tons, 80 feet in length. The Pilot was a steamer of 189 tons, 120 feet long. Before moving for the brig they were both in the vicinity of Cape Henry. The brigantine's course lay a little south of buoy No.2, which is about five miles from Cape Henry. The brig, when the two pilotboats began to make towards her, was about four miles to the eastward of the buoy. The Graves crossed the course of the brig ahead of her, and got to her leeward, and was meeting her, moving nearly on a parallel line with her. She spoke the brig when about 50 feet to the leeward. This was half a mile south-eastward of buoy No.2. Finding that the brig did not need a pilot, the Graves passed on, moving at the rate of nine miles an hour, on a starboard tack, closehauled, with her helm slightly a-starboard, and nearly midships. Before the Pilot (steamer) had got near the brig on the windward side, after coming up on nearly a northward course from the direction of Cape Henry, the Pilot ported her helm to pass towards the stern of the brig, and was on aN. N. E. course, with helm ported, wben she had come to a distance of 300 feet from the brig. This was about the moment when the Graves spoke the brig on the opposite side. The Pilot was then moving with helm a-port at the rate of about six and a half miles an hour, her course gadually changing more and more to the eastward, under the influence of her ported helm. Finding that the Graves had spoken the brig, the Pilot intended coming round to return to her cruising-ground near Cape Henry. ,That was also the intention of the Graves. This intention was legitimate in each one of the two boats. Here I will pause to remark that it is idle to contend that, while the Graves was near the brig on the oppo.site side, the Pilot had no right to be at a position 300 feet south of the brig. She was offering It pilot service to the brig. That was the business she was on. She had a right to be within 300 feet or 50 feet of the brig. She had the right to be as near on one side of the brig as the Graves had a right to be on the other, in an open sea. And each had the right, after leaving the brig, to make its way back to its usual cruising