HAYES V. FISCHER

Decision Date01 January 1880
Citation102 U. S. 121
CourtU.S. Supreme Court

MOTION TO DISMISS WRIT OF ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT

OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Syllabus

1. An appeal is the only mode by which the appellate jurisdiction of this Court can be exercised in equity suits brought in the courts of the United States, and it does not lie before a final decree has been rendered.

2. A proceeding in the court below for contempt cannot be reexamined here by an appeal or a writ of error.

The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

Page 102 U. S. 122

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

Fischer, the defendant in error, brought a suit in equity in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York, to restrain Hayes, the plaintiff in error, from using a certain patented device. In this suit, an interlocutory injunction was granted. Complaint having been made against Hayes for a violation of this injunction, proceedings were instituted against him for contempt, which resulted in an order by the court that he pay the clerk ,389.99 as a fine, and that he stand committed until the order was obeyed. To reverse this order, Hayes sued out this writ of error, which Fischer now moves to dismiss on the ground that such proceedings in the circuit court cannot be reexamined here.

If the order complained of is to be treated as part of what was done in the original suit, it cannot be brought here for review by writ of error. Errors in equity suits can only be corrected in this court on appeal, and that after a final decree. This order, if part of the proceedings in the suit, was interlocutory only.

If the proceeding below, being for contempt, was independent of and separate from the original suit, it cannot be reexamined here either by writ of error or appeal. This was decided more than fifty years ago in Ex Parte Kearney, 7 Wheat. 38, and the rule then established was followed as late as New Orleans v. Steamship Company, 20 Wall. 387. It follows that we have no jurisdiction.

Motion granted.

To continue reading

Request your trial
56 cases
  • Merchants' Stock & Grain Co. v. Board of Trade of City of Chicago
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (8th Circuit)
    • October 24, 1912
    ......Ex parte Kearney,. 7 Wheat. 38, 5 L.Ed. 391; New Orleans v. Steamship. Co., 20 Wall. 387, 22 L.Ed. 354; Hayes v. Fischer, 102 U.S. 121, 26 L.Ed. 95; Ex parte Fisk, 113. U.S. 713, 718, 5 Sup.Ct. 724, 28 L.Ed. 1117; In re. Debs, 158 U.S. 564, 15 Sup.Ct. ......
  • United States v. Mulcahy
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
    • June 30, 1948
    ......599, 27 S.Ct. 313, 51 L. Ed. 641; In re Christensen Engineering Co., 194 U.S. 458, 24 S.Ct. 729, 48 L.Ed. 1072; Hayes v. Fischer, 102 U.S. 121, 26 L.Ed. 95; Worden v. Searls, 121 U.S. 14, 25, 7 S.Ct. 814, 30 L.Ed. 853. The appellant in the court below, the petitioner ......
  • Laramie National Bank v. Steinhoff
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Wyoming
    • June 1, 1898
    ...... Pl. and Pr., 809; Ex parte Kearney, 7 Wheat., 38;. McMicken v. Parin, 20 How., 133; New Orleans v. Steamship Co., 20 Wall., 387; Hays v. Fischer,. 102 U.S. 121; Tyler v. Hamersley, 44 Conn. 392;. Easton v. State, 39 Ala. 551; State v. Wood, 42 Am. Dec., 161; State v. Thermond, 37. Tex. ......
  • In re Nevitt
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (8th Circuit)
    • August 28, 1902
    ...... of Judge Blatchford in the Case of Mullee (in the year 1869). 17 Fed.Cas. 968, 7 Blatchf. 23, and upon Fischer v. Hayes. (CC.) 6 Fed. 63. In that case Mullee had been fined in. the sum of $2,500, to be paid to the plaintiffs in the suit,. for a willful and ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT