Railroad v. Johnson, 82 U.S. 8 (1872)

Syllabus

U.S. Supreme Court

Railroad v. Johnson, 82 U.S. 15 Wall. 8 8 (1872)

Railroad v. Johnson

82 U.S. (15 Wall.) 8

Syllabus

Where a mortgage on a bill of foreclosure filed in an inferior state court against his mortgagor and certain trustees holding collateral securities obtains in that court a decree against the mortgagor personally and against the trustees as trustees, and the mortgagor alone appeals to the supreme court of the state, to which, on affirmance of the decree, he alone takes a writ of error here, it is no ground to dismiss the writ that the trustees are not joined with him as plaintiffs in error in this Court.

Johnson held bonds of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad Company, secured by mortgage on the road and by the transfer of certain stock to Huntington and Nichols, as trustees. The bonds were not paid at maturity, and Johnson filed a petition in equity in the Superior Court of New London County, Connecticut, praying that the mortgage be foreclosed, and sale ordered of the stock. In that suit, Huntington and Nichols were summoned and a decree was given against them as trustees, as well as against the railroad company as mortgagors. From that decree the company alone appealed to the supreme court of the state. The decree below having been affirmed in that court, the railroad company alone brought the case here by writ of error.

Johnson now moved to dismiss the writ on the ground that Huntington and Nichols were not joined with the railroad company as plaintiffs.


Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Railroad v. Johnson, 82 U.S. 15 Wall. 8 8 (1872) Railroad v. Johnson

82 U.S. (15 Wall.) 8

ON MOTION TO DISMISS WRIT OF ERROR TO SUPREME COURT OF ERRORS

TO THE SUPREME COURT OF ERRORS OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

Syllabus

Where a mortgage on a bill of foreclosure filed in an inferior state court against his mortgagor and certain trustees holding collateral securities obtains in that court a decree against the mortgagor personally and against the trustees as trustees, and the mortgagor alone appeals to the supreme court of the state, to which, on affirmance of the decree, he alone takes a writ of error here, it is no ground to dismiss the writ that the trustees are not joined with him as plaintiffs in error in this Court.

Johnson held bonds of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad Company, secured by mortgage on the road and by the transfer of certain stock to Huntington and Nichols, as trustees. The bonds were not paid at maturity, and Johnson filed a petition in equity in the Superior Court of New London County, Connecticut, praying that the mortgage be foreclosed, and sale ordered of the stock. In that suit, Huntington and Nichols were summoned and a decree was given against them as trustees, as well as against the railroad company as mortgagors. From that decree the company alone appealed to the supreme court of the state. The decree below having been affirmed in that court, the railroad company alone brought the case here by writ of error.

Johnson now moved to dismiss the writ on the ground that Huntington and Nichols were not joined with the railroad company as plaintiffs.

Page 82 U. S. 9

THE CHIEF JUSTICE:

Huntington and Nichols had no interest in the controversy, and did not appeal to the Supreme Court. The only party to the decree of that court was the railroad company, and it is the decree of that court which the writ of error seeks to review. It was therefore properly brought in the name of the railroad company alone. The motion to dismiss must be

Denied.