FllAZEU LL:BRICATOR CO. V. FRAZER.
805
FRAZER LUBRICATOR
CO.
V. FRAZER
and others, Partners, etc. 1 April,1885.) OF TRADE-MARX-CITIZENSHIP.
(Circuit Cou'rt, D. Minnesota. JURISDICTION OF CIRcorr
An Illinois corporation brought suit in the United States cireuit eourt for the district of Minnesota against S. F. & Co., a firm composed of citizens of the state of Illinois, and their agents, Z. & H., who were citizens of the state of Minnesota, to restrain them from infringing its trade-mark in the state of Minnesota. Held, on motion to dismiss for want of jurisdiction on the ground that the substantial controversy was between citizens of Illinois, Z. & H. having by answer disclaimed the alleged agenc,r and denied any interest iu the suit, tllut the circuit court had jurisdiction.
Motion to Dismiss. The bill of complaint is filed by a corporation, citizen of Illinois, against defendauts to enjoin them from using a trade-mark belonging to the complainant, or an imitation of it calculated and intended to deceive the public, and advertising that they kept on hand and were the sale agents for the sale of such axle-grease indicated in trademark. The trade-mark used by complainant is "Frazer's Axle Grease," printed on a label, with devices and pictures of wagons with horses and drivers, and other representations of a peculiar character. The bill charges that the defendants Frazer & Co. manufacture a sim· ilaraxle-grease, and attached a label marked "Superior Axle Grease, manufactured by Frazer & Co.," with devices so nearly alike that used by complainant as to deceive the public; and that it is used for the purpose of fraudulently deceiving and misleading persons who buy and use axle-grease. There is also an allegation that defendants Yanz & Howes are the agents of Frazer & Co., in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the sale of axle-grease manufactured by them, and so advertise themselves, and are selling the said axle-grease labeled with the devices substantially similar to the trade-mark exclusively owned by complainant. An injunction is prayed for, etc. The defendants composing the firm of Frazer & Co. are citizens of Illinois. Yanz & Howes are citizens of Minnesota, and reside in the city of St. Service of subpcena is made on Yanz & Howes, and this firm alone appear and file an answer, denying that they are agents of Frazer & Co., and allege that they purchased the axle-grease received and for sale by them in the open market in the course of trade, and that they have no interest in the other matters charged in the complaint. Replication is filed. The title oHhecomplainant to the trade-mark and the manufacture of "Frazer's Axle Grease," as set forth in the bill, is derived from certain assignments of letters patent, and contracts between the comFrazer, one of the defendants. A plainant, its grantor!3, and motion is made to dismiss bill for want of jurisdiction. The princi1
Repor\ed QyRobertson Howard, Esq., of the St. Paul bar.
v.23F,no.7-20
306
FBDBBAL REPORTER.
pal reason assigned for dismissal is that the substantial controversy in the bill is between citizens of Illinois, and the defendants Yanz & Howes have no interest in it, and have disclaimed alleged agency in their answer. Horton « Morrison, for complainant. John B. it W. H. Sanborn, for defendants. NELSON, J. I suppose the· complainant could have bronght this suit against Yanz & Howes alone. The controversy between these parties, citizens of different states, is that defendants advertised that they had on hand for sale an article of axle-grease, with a trademark "Superior Axle Grease, manufactured by S. Frazer & Co.," with devices similar to the trade-mark of the complainant, and tending to deceive the public. The object of the suit is to enjoin Yanz & Howes from calling the grease sold by them "Superior Axle Grease, manufactured by S. Frazer & Co.," for the purpose of making the public believe it is the "Frazer's Axle Grease" manufactured by complainant. It is the imitation of the device used by complainants that is sought to be enjoined, and there is no reason why the bill must fall because other parties defendant, not served, are citizens of the same state as the complainant. If the trade-mark used by Frazer & Co. is an imitation of complainant's, and used to deceive the public, the defendants who appear can be enjoined from advertising that they are the exclusive agents for the sale of axle-grease put up in the packages labeled as charged, and their denial in the answer of agency, is not conclusive. I shall deny motion to dismiss and let the suit go to hearing, when it can be more clearly determined whether the trademark used by defendants infringes the rights of the complainant. Motion to dismiss bill denied.
CENTRAL TRUST Co. OF
NEW
YORK
V.
OHIO CE'NT. R. Co.
In the Matter of the Intervening Petition of the COLUMBUS, HOOKING VALLEY & TOLEDO RAILWAY COMPANY, asking for its Share of Earnings under a Pooling Contract. (Circuit Oourt, N. D. Ohio, W. D. March 24,1885.) RAILROAD (JOMPANIES - EXECUTED POOLING CONTRACT-DISPOSITTON OF .FUND REALIZED BY RECEIVER.
Where a "pooling contract" .entered into hetwcen two railroad companies has heen. fully executed, and the profits derived therefrom are collected and held by a receiver of one of the companies, he will not be allowed to retain the fund thus acquired, but will be decreed to pay it over to the other company in accordance with the terms of the contract, without regard to the validity of the original agreement.
In proceedings pending in the circuit court of the United States for the district of Ohio, Western division, at Toledo, brought by the