Goddard v. Ordway

Decision Date01 October 1876
Citation94 U.S. 672,24 L.Ed. 237
PartiesGODDARD v. ORDWAY
CourtU.S. Supreme Court

APPEAL from the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.

On motion for a writ of supersedeas.

Mr. E. L. Stanton in support of the motion.

Mr. R. T. Merrick and Mr. George F. Appleby, contra.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE delivered the opinion of the court.

This was a suit in equity prosecuted by the appellant to subject to the payment of a debt a portion of the profits, as they accrued to the defendant in the performance of a contract between himself and the United States. In the progress of the cause in the court below a receiver was appointed to collect from the United States a part of the moneys payable to the defendant under his contract, as they fell due, and retain them to await the result of the suit. Upon the final hearing below the bill was dismissed, and from that decree this appeal, which operates as a supersedeas, was taken. When the supersedeas was perfected, the receiver had in his hands about $25,000, invested in United States bonds, which he had collected under the order of the court and held subject to its disposal. The appellant fearing, as he alleges, that an order is about to be made, directing the receiver to pay the money in his hands to the defendant, notwithstanding the appeal, asks the interference of this court for his protection.

A supersedeas upon the appeal of a suit in equity operates to stay the execution of the decree appealed from. When this appeal was taken, the only execution there could be of the decree below was the collection of the cost and the delivery to the defendant of the fund in court, which is the subject-matter of the litigation. To that end, a further order of the court was asked; but such an order would be in aid of the execution of the decree which has been stayed, and consequently beyond the power of the court to make until the appeal is disposed of. While the court below may make the necessar orders to preserve the fund, and direct its receiver to that extent, it cannot place the money beyond the control of any decree that may be made here, for that would be to defeat our jurisdiction.

A supersedeas is not obtained by virtue of any process issued by this court, but it follows as a matter of law from a compliance by the appellant with the provisions of the act of Congress in that behalf. We are not required, therefore, to issue any writ to perfect the right of a party to that which the law has given him; but if the court below is...

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22 cases
  • Midland Terminal Ry. Co. v. Warinner
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • November 12, 1923
    ...the review (Merrimack R. Sav. Bank v. Clay Center, 219 U.S. 527, 31 Sup.Ct. 295, 55 L.Ed. 320, Ann. Cas. 1912A, 513; Goddard v. Ordway, 94 U.S. 672, 24 L.Ed. 237; Bronson v. R.R., 1 Wall. (68 U.S.) 405, 17 616). Of course, action by the trial court must be within the term or time required b......
  • Monongahela River Consol. Coal & Coke Co. v. Hurst
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Sixth Circuit
    • November 7, 1912
    ...S.Ct. xvi); Stafford v. Union Bank, 16 How. 135, 139, 14 L.Ed. 876; Sage v. Railroad Co., 93 U.S. 412, 417, 23 L.Ed. 933; Goddard v. Ordway, 94 U.S. 672, 24 L.Ed. 237; Ex parte French, 100 U.S. 1, 4, 25 L.Ed. 529. Had supersedeas not been taken, appellees could, notwithstanding the appeal, ......
  • Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Co. v. Barre & Montpelier Traction & Power Co.
    • United States
    • Vermont Supreme Court
    • January 4, 1924
    ... ... interest of the parties therein, notwithstanding the appeal ... Bronson v. Railroad Co., 68 U.S. (1 Wall.) ... 405, 17 L.Ed. 616; Goddard v. Ordway, 94 ... U.S. 672, 24, 24 L.Ed. 237 L. ed 237; Grant v ... Phoenix Life Ins. Co., 121 U.S. 118, 30 L.Ed. 909, 7 ... S.Ct. 849; Merrimack ... ...
  • Gay v. Hudson River Electric Power Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York
    • September 16, 1911
    ...the decisions of the Supreme Court, and would also lead to confusion and conflict between the judges. I find nothing in Goddard v. Ordway, 94 U.S. 672, 24 L.Ed. 237, or Draper v. Davis, 102 U.S. 370, 26 L.Ed. 121, or McCourt v. Singers-Bigger, 150 F. 102, 80 C.C.A. 56, or Goddard v. Ordway,......
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