First in time, best in right

Judson had the earliest assignment of part of the amount declared to be due to Williams … and the claim assigned being a right depending on an equity against the government of Mexico, and assuming that both sets of assignments are alike fair, and originally stood on the same bona fide footing, the rule of necessity is, that the assignor having parted with his interest by the first assignment, the second assignee could take nothing; and, as he represents his assignor, is bound by the equities imposed on the latter; and hence has arisen the maxim in such cases, that he who is first in time is best in right.