51.6
73
REPORTER.
removal was filed that the possibility that a federal question might arise on the trial appeared. Hence the court below had no jurisdiction. Npr is it material that the removal was caused by the party now complaining of it. It is well settled, by decisions of the supreme court, and on principle, that the party improperly removing the· case from the state court may assign as error the want of jurisdiction over the subject-matter of the court to which the removal has been had. Martin's Adm'r v. Railroad Co., 151 U. S. 674-690, 14 Sup. Ct. 533; Railway Co. v. Swan, 111 U. S. 379-382, 4 Sup. Ct. 510; Capron v. Van Noorden, 2 Cranch, 126; Brown v. Keene, 8 Pet. 112. The defect in jurisdiction here is not merely modal, like the time within which a petition for removal is to be filed, but it goes to the substance of the jurisdiction. The judgment of .the circuit court is reversed, with directions to remand the case to the circuit court ·of Wayne county, Mich. The costs of this court, and the costs of the circuit court, and of the trial had therein, will all be taxed to the Wabash Railroad Company.
ANDREWS et al. v. NATIONAL FOUNDRY & PIPE WORKS, I.imitcd, et al. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. No. 283. ApPEALABLE DEOREES-FlNALITY.
April 6, 1896.)
In a creditors' suit against a corporation and. certain of its stockholders, who were also its mortgagees, a decree was entered, Which, among other things, fixed the amounts due to both secured and unsecured creditors, and adjudged that certain creditors had liens superior to the mortgages; that the corporate property and franchises be sold to satisfy the same; that the individual defendants were holders of specified amounts of unpaid stock, and should pay the specified demands of the unsecured creditors. Held, that this decree was tinal and appealable as to these provisions, and would not be dismissed.l
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This was a creditors' bill filed by the National Foundry & Pipe Works, Limited, against the Oconto City Water Supply Company, S. D. Andrews, W. H. 'Vhitcomb, and others. An order granting a preliminary injunction was reversed on appeal by this court. See 10 C. C. A. 60, 61 Fed. 782. Various other creditors interfered, and, after full hearing on the merits (68 Fed. 1006), a decree was entered fixing the rights of all the parties. Defendants appeal. Motion to dismiss.
Before WOODS and SHOWALTER, Circuit Judges. lAs to the finality of decrees of the federal C'ourts for purposes of appeal, see note to Trust Co. v. Madden, 17 C. C. A. 238.
AKDREWS V. NATIONAL FOUNDRY &; PIPE WORKS.
517
"TOODS, Circuit Judge. The appellees have joined in a motion to dismiss this appeal On the ground that the decree was not final. 'l'he brief in support of the motion contains this statement: "The bill was filed, alleging, among other things, that the defendants Andrews and 'Whitcomb were personally liable to the complainant and other creditors for the amount of their claims, upon the ground that they were the owners and holders of stock for which no consideration had been paid. The prayer for relief asked that such stockholders be adjudged to pay the claims of the creditors. The decree entered ascertains and fixes the amount due to both the secured and unsecured creditors, and adjudges that the complainant, National Foundry & Pipe 'Yorks, Limited, and the Intervener, H. D. 'Wood & Co., have mechanics' liens upon the property of the Oconto Water Company prior to all other liens, and that they are authorized to proceed to the enforcement of such liens in accordance with the decrees of the court establishing the same. The decree contains the following further provision: 'That said defendants, S. D. Andrews, and 'V. H. Whitcomb, be, and they are hereby, ordered and required, and are hereby adjudged, to pay the amounts respectively adjudged due to the above-mentioned unsecured creditors, to wit, Chapman Valve Manufacturing Company, Sherwood, Sutherland & Company, Dickinson Brothers & King, and Cook & Hyde, together with their respective costs, as herein adjudged, and also that said defendants S. D. Andrews and 'V. H. 'Vhitcomb, be, and they are hereby, ordered and required to pay any deficiency that may be found due to said secured creditors. to wit, the said National r"oull(lry & Pipe Works, Limited, and the said H. D. Wood & Co., if any there shall be after applying to the satisfaction of their said respective mechanic's lien decrees hereinbefore referred to the proceeds of the sales made thereunder; the amount of such detieiency being made to appear to the satisfaction of this court, and an order for such payment entered at the foot of this decree.' ..
The authorities cited in support of the motion are: McGourkey v. Railway Co., 146 U. S. 536, 13 Sup. Ct. 170; Elder v. McClaskey, 17 C. C. A. 251, 70 Fed. 52H, 557; Hohorst v. Packet Co., 148 U. S. 262, 13 Sup. Ct. 5HO,-distinguishing Hill v. Railroad Co., 140 U. S. 52, 11 Sup. Ct. 690, and approving Montgomery v. Anderson, 21 How. 386. The brief for the appellees contains the following fuller statement of the decree: "The case went to hearing upon the pleadings, proofs, and arguments of counsel. The controverted issueH raiHed by the amended pleadings are: Pirst. 'Vbether appellees (the complainant and interveners, H. D. 'Wood & Co.) bad liens upon all of the rights, franchises, and properiy of the defendant Oconto 'Vater Company and the plant constructed by that company in the city of Oconto, Wis., and, if so, to what extent 'I Second. 'Vhether, if they had such liens, they were assertable against appellants (Andrews and Whitcomb) ,vho were not parties to the actions in which the decrees were rendered, or as against appellants' interest in the property as purchasers at a sale made under a decree of mortgage foreclosure and sale, anrl if so, were such liens paramount or subordinate to appellants' interest? 'l'hird. 'Yhether appellants were holders of unpaid stock of the defendant Oconto 'Vater Company, and, if so, to what extent'! Fourth. ,Vhether there were unsecured creditors of the defendant Oconto Water Company, and, if so, how many and the right amount of the claim of each? lrifth. Whether the bonds of the defendant Oconto Water Company, issued to appellants as collateral security, were void. Sixth. 'Yhether the instruments of mortgage under whieh appellants claim were made in good faith. and for a valuable consideration, and, if so, whether they were withheld from record by their procurement or with their eonsent or in fraud of creditors. And, seventh, whether compensation for the services and disbursements of the receiver appointed early in the case by an order subsequently reversed by this court
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518
'73 FEDERAL REPORTER.
upon appeal, and of his counsel, :should be mll,de out of the funds collected by him during his receivership as the .rents, issues, and profits of the waterworl,s plant. All these issues were determined in favor of appellees, except those mentioned in the sixth paragl'liph llbove, viz. whether the instruments of mortgage under which appellants claim were made in good faith, and for a valuable consideration, and, if sll" whether they were .withheld from record by their procurement, or with their consent, or in fraud of creditors, which were determined in favor of appellallts. And the decree in terms declares the validity of the mechanic's lien decrees obtained by appellees to the full extent of the amount of each of thoS6decrees, with interest; that appellants were privies to and concluded by said lien decrees; that each of said lien decrees was, as a lien, prior to the illstruments under which appellants claim, and to all other liens or rights of appellants in the property, and should be enforced, and specifically authorized, appellees to proceed to the enforcement and satisfaction of their respective mechanics' liens upon and against the franchises and property of said Oconto 'Vater Company 'in accordance with and as provided in their respective decrees establishing the same'; that appellants were stockholders of the defendant Oconto Water Company, of its unpaid stock, amounting to $100,000. and 'liable for all unpaid amounts upon such stock so far as may be necessary to discharge the indebtednesB of said Oconto Water Oompany, not exceeding, however, the sum of $100,000'; that defendant Oconto 'Water Company's indebtedness to unsecured creditors was as follows, viz.: To Chapman Valve Manufacturing Co. on a judgment; for the sum of $838.88, with interest; to Sherwood, & Co. for $790.22, with interest; to Dickinson Bros. & King for the sum of $341.63, with interest, and to Cook & Hyde for the sum of $85, with interest: that appellants pay 'the amounts respectively adjudged due to the abovementioned unsecured creditors (naming them), together with their resllectiw; costs as herein adjudged; and also that said defendants S. D. Andrews and W. H. Whitcomb be, and theJ" are hereby, ordered and required to pay any deficiency tAat may be found due to said secured creditors, to wit, the National Foundry & Pipe Works, Limited, and the said It. D. Wood & Co., if any there shall be after applying to the satisfaction of their said respective mechanics' lien decrees hereinbefore referred to the proceeds of the sale;.; made thereunder, the amount of said deficiency being made to appear to the satisfaction of this court, and an order for such payment entered at thl' foot of this decree'; that the bonds issued by the defendant Oconto 'Vater Company and held by appellants were void, and that they be delivered up to the clerk of the court to be canceled; that the receiver be paW for his services and disbursements and for those of his counsel the sum of $5,000 out of the moneys collected by him 'arising from the operation of said plant by said receiver'; and that complainant recover of the appellant its costs in the SUit, taxed at the sum of $254, and have execution for their eollection. Andrews and 'Whitcomb, the Oconto City 'Water Supply Company. and the city of Oconto (defendants below) prayed an appeal from the decree, which the court allowed."
The authorities cited in opposition to the motion are: Trust Co. v. Madden, 25 U. S. App. 430, 17 C. C. A. 238, 70 Fed. 451; Elder y. McClaskey, supra; Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., Petitioner, 12H U. S. 206, 9 Sup. Ct. 265; Dainese v. Kendall, 119 U. S. 53, 7 Sup. Ct. 65; Bank v. Sheffey, 140 U. S. 445, 11 Sup. Ct. 755; Grant v. Insurance Co., 106 U. S. 429, 1 Sup. Ct. 414; St. Louis, 1. M. & S. R. Co. v. Southern Exp. Co., 108 U. S. 24, 2 Sup. Ct. 6; Ex parte Norton, 108 U. S. 237, 2 Sup. Ct. 490; Hill v. Railroad Co., 140 U. S. 52, 11 Sup. Ct. 690; Forgay v. Conrad, 6 How. 202; Whiting v. Bank, 13 Pet. 15; French v. Shoemaker, 12 Wall. 86; Railroad Co. v. Fosdick, 106 U. S. 82, 1 Sup. Ct. 10; Dufour v. Lang, 4 C. C. A. 663,2 U. S. App. 477, 54 Fed. 913; Blossom v. Railroad Co., 1 Wall. 655; Bronson v. Railroad Co., 2 Black, 528; Railway Co. v. Shu-