IN BE ALLEN.
B09
to ignore proper preparation npon one material issue, in order to obtain the chances of a second trial in case of failure upon the other issues. The motion is denied.
In re Account of ALLEN, Chief Supervisor of Elections, etc.! (Di8trict (Jourt, E. D. New York. November 12,1883.)
ACCOUNTS OF SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS-AcT OF FEBRUARY 22, 1875, (18 ST. AT LARGE, 333,)-U. S. REV. ST. § 2031-CERTIFICATE OF JUDGE UNDER § 846. The effect of Rev. St. § 2031, is not such as to bring the accounts of a chief supervisor of elections within the scope of the act of February 22, 1875, (18 St. at Large, 333,) providing for the passing of acconnts of clerks, marshals, district attorneys, and United States commissioners in open court.
Account of Supervisor of Elections. Frank W. Angel, Asst. U. S. Atty., for the United States. John .1. Allen, for himself. BENEDICT, J. The account of John J. Allen, the chief supervisor of elections in this district, was presented to the district judge of the district, and was certified by him pursuan t to section 2031 of the Revised Statutes in the manner heretofore adopted with reference to other similar accounts. The same account is now submitted to the district court by the district attorney, for the purpose of having the account passed on in open court, in the manner provided for the accounts of clerks, marshals, district attorneys, and United States commissioners by the act of February 22, 1875, § I, (18 St. at Large, 333.) This action on the part of the district attorney has raised, among others, the question whether the effect of section 2031 is to bring the accounts of a chief supervisor of election within the scope of the subsequent act of February 22, 1875, which act is, by its terms, limited to the accounts of clerks, marshals, district attorneys, and United States commissioners. Upon this question my opinion is that no such effect can be given to section 2031, and that the act of February 22,1875, has no application to the accounts of a chief supervisor of election. For this reaSOD, therefore, if there were no other, the court is can· strained to decline to enter upon the inquiry tendered by the district attorney in reference to this account, without passing upon the validity of a statute like this of February 22, 1875, which seeks to authorize proving of an account "in open court" before a circuit or a district court, and at the same time provides for the revision of the action of the court by the accounting officers of the treasury. See U. S. v. Ferreira, 13 How. 40; U. S. v. Todd, ld. note,p. 52; Ex parte Gana, 17 FED. REP. 471. 1 Heported
by H. D. & Wyll.rs Benedict, of the New York bar.
810
FEDERAL REPORTER.
A further suggestion having been made that the judge's certificate attached to this account is not a certificate such as contemplated by section 846, I take this occasion to say that the certificate is in the form adopted many years ago, and, so far as I am aware, it has always, up to this time, been deemed a sufficient compliance with the provisions of section 846. In my opinion, no other or different certificate can be required of the judge in respect to this account. The account is therefore directed to be returned to the district attorney, to be dealt with by him ashe may be advised.
HENDRYX
and otbers v.
FITZPATRICK.
:Oircuit (lourt, D. Ma88achusett8. April 2, 1884.} CON'fEMPT-POWER OF COURT TO REVOKE ITS ORDERS.
An order. committing a defendant for contempt, in refusing to pay a SUIll of money, is civil, and not criminal,.in its nature, and the court which committed him is at liberty to release him again in case he sbows himself unable to comply with the requirements of the court
.
In the Matter of Contempt of Court. T. W. Porter and J. MeG. Perkins, for complainants. A. H. Briggs, for defendant. Before LOWELL and NELSON, JJ. LOWELL, J. In this case the defendant was enjoined from infringing a patent, pendente lite, because, though the court had serious doubts of its validity, the defendant had himself sold the patent to the plaintiffs for a considerable sum of money, and it was thought no more than justice that he should refrain from violating his own implied warranty until the final hearing. Afterwards proceedings for contempt for a violation of the injunction were prosecuted by the plaintiffs, and after evidence taken and a hearing, the defendant was ordered to pay the fees of the master by a certain day, the costs of the proceedings, and certain profits assessed by the master, by certain other days, and in default of payment to be committed. These Jast two sums, when paid in, were to be paid out to the plaintiffs. 'l'be defendant failed to make the last two payments, and was committed to prison. After he had been in confinement for about two weeks the district judge, with my approval, though I was unable to sit in the case, permitted the defendant to go before the master and prove, If he could, in proceedings like those under the poor-debtor Ltw of Massachrisetts, that he had 11"0 property which he could apply to the payment of his debts. The plaintiffs were duly notified of the hearing before the master and did not attend, and the master admitted the d<Jfendant to take the poor-debtor's oath; and thert:mpon the court discharged him upon his own recognizance.