130'
J'EDEBAL BEPOBTEB,
vol. ·63.
for the passage of gas; but in the second it was essential that there should be provision for conducting gas, as well as electricity, to the respective burners or lamps. This difference in requirement made it necessary,. of course, that the details of the combined fixture should·differsomewhat'from those of, the fixture for electric lighting Buf the changes and additions which were consequently made were structural in character, and in view of the state of the art,includiilgthepatenteoe's prior patent, did not involve invention. The wires were placed between the main pipe of the fixture and its already existing ornamental cover, instead of within the pipe Itself; a. screw to hold the canopy in place,but admitting of its being moved up and down upon the pipe covering, was provided; arms for· the electric lamps were added, through which wires connected with the main wires· were extended; and the added arms were fastened to the gas body, just as the old gas arms were, except that any opening from the wire conduit into the gas body was avoided by simply closing the end of the pipe, and placing the opening for the admission of the wires outside of that body. This appears to me to be all that can be claimed to be covered by the second patent, 80 far as it is alleged that the defendant has infringed it, which was not distinctly disclosed in the first one; and careful consideration of this·record, and of the arguments of counsel, has irresistibly brought my mind to tbe conclmdon that wbat Is here claimed to constitute invention entitled to protection under the second patent amounts to nothing more than the mechanical union-not combination-of the electric fixture of Stieringer's first patent, and others shown in the proofs, with an ordinary gas fix· ture. The bill Is dismissed, with costs. THIll WILLAMETTE VALLEY. CHANDLER v. THE WILLAM:ETTE VALLEY. (DIstrict Court, N. D. CaHtornla. August 7, 1894.) No. 10,862.
1.
ADHmALTy-SUIT IN REX AGAINST VESSEL IN CUSTODY Oll' RECEIVER-BALlI
The sale, pendente lite, under admiralty rules 10 and 11, of a ship which . Is deteriorating In the hands of the marshal, wlll not be denied because the question at Issue Is the propriety of entertaining an action ·In rem against the vessel while In the hands of a receiver appointed by the court of another state, which question the receiver Intends to have determlnEit. In the appellate court. 2. 84HE-DETERIORATION.
PENDENTE LITE.
Where the claimant refuses to make deposit. or give stipulation for th& "essel's release, and It appears that her machinery Is rusting, her woodwork drying and cracking, and every part showing general deterioration and decay, a sale wUl be ordered, although It appears that a final determination on appeal maybe had within six months.
This was a libel by R. D. Chandler against the steamsWp Wit· lamette Valley, of which Charles Clark, receiver of the Oregon
rHE WILLAME'£TE VAI,LEY.
131
Pacific Railway, was claimant. Libelant petitioned for a sale of the ship, pendente lite, on the ground of expense and deterioration in the hands of the marshal. Anqros & Frank, for libelant R. D. Chandler. Page, Eells & Wheeler, for claimant. MORROW, District Judge. The petition sets forth that the libelant filed his libel herein December 19, 1893; that the vessel was then taken into the custody of the United States marshal; that on December 30, 1893, the Oregon Pacific Railroad Company filed its claim to said vessel; that the petitioner is informed and be· .1 the entry of a decree in b,is favor in the abovelieves that, entitled cause, the claimant intends to and will enter an appeal from said decree to the supreme court of the United States, and that, as the petitioner is informed and believes, such appeal cannot be heard and determined in said court until the lapse of a long time, to wit, two years or thereabouts; that, if said vessel be retained in the custody of the marshal for such length of time, the said parties will be put to great additional expense for such care and custody; and that said vessel will have become grea tly injured, decayed, and depreciated in value. Tbe petition is accompanied by affidavits showing that the machinery of the vessel is rusting, and the woodwork drying and cracking, and that sbe is showing general decay and deterioration in every part. A decree in favor of the libelant was dir'Ccted to be entered in this court, June 22, 18fl4. 'fhe question in controversy in the case was the propriety of this court entertaining an action in rem against the vessel 'while she was in the hands of a receiver appointed hy the court of another state. It was my opinion that this court had such right, and counsel for the receiver proposes to have this question determined by the appellate court, claiming that the cirt:uit court of appeals has jurisdiction to determine the question, and that it will be so determined in a few mouths. It appears that, pending the appeal, costs will accrue for the care and custody of the vessel, and, as stated in the aftidavits, she will suffer decay and deterioration in value. Rules 10 and 11 of the general admiralty rules provide that in all cases where any ship has been arrested, and the claimant declines to make application to have the vessel delivered to him upon depositing the appraised value in court, or upon giving a stipulation for value, the court may, in its discretion, upon the application of either party, upon due cause shown, order a sale of the ship, and the proceeds thereof to be brought into court, or otherwise disposed of, as it may deem most for the benefit of all concerned. In rule 10, good cause for the sale of goods or otber thfngs would be a showing that the property is perishable, or liable to deterioration, decay, or injury by being detained in custody the suit. The receiver represents that he is not in a position to, deposit the appraised value of the vessel in court, or give a stipulaition for such value, and he objects to the sale of tbe vessel at this time, on the ground that the question at
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FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 63.
issue in the case is one of jurisdiction as to the right of this court to entertain proceedings against the vessel; and this question, he contends, would be an infirmity that would enter into and affect the order of sale. I do not understand, however, that the question is really one of jurisdiction. It is a question of comity whether, under the circumstances of the case, this court ought to entertain an action in rem against the vessel while she is in the hands of a receiver appointed by the court of another state. Now, if a sale of the vessel is necessary to save her value, and prevent the accumulation of costs, pending the determination of this question, I do not see how an order of sale can be refused by this court because the appellate court may determine this question adversely. Indeed, I do not see how an order of sale, otherwise proper, could be refused on the ground that a question of jurisdiction is involved. If the court is without jurisdiction, its proceedings may be arrested by the appellate court; but this court cannot with any propriety or consistency discredit its own decrees, and refuse to direct proceedings for the benefit of parties whose interests are involved. The showing presented by the motion and affidavits in this case brings the proceedings within general admiralty rules 10 and 11, and is sufficient, in my judgment, to warrant the court in exercising its discretion in favor of a sale of the vessel. It is also contended that the case may be taken to the circuit court of appeals, and a final judgment obtain in the course of six months; but it appears from the affidavits that a custody for any period will be injurious to the vessel. The showing in support of the petition appears to me to be sufficient, even though the appeal may be determined in a few months. An order of sale will therefore be entered.
PAXSON ,et al. v. CUNNINGHAM. (Circuit Court of Appeals, First Circna. June 26, 1894.) No. 91. RECEIVERS-LIBEL AGAINST VESSEL IN RECEIVEl\'S' POSllESSION-INJUNCTION.
After receivers of a railroad company, appointed ,by a United States circuit court, had taken possession of a steamship, the property of the company, she came into collision with another vessel, and was libeled therefor by the owners of that vessel in the district court. Held, that the circuit court, in its uiseration, properly declined to issue, on the petition of the receivers, an injunction against the proceedingS in admiralty.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of thE" United States for the District of Massachusetts. This was a petition by Edward M. Paxson and others, receivers of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, for an injunction against Milford T. Cunningham, to' restrain the prosecution of a libel in admiralty. The circuit court sustained a demurrer to the petition, and a decree dismissing the petition was entered thereon. The petitioners appealed.