United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Pennsylvania, 368 U.S. 71 (1961)

Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Pennsylvania

No. 15

Argued October 12, 1961

Decided December 4, 1961

368 U.S. 71

Syllabus

1. Appellant was incorporated under the laws of New York, and has its principal place of business there. It transacts a world-wide telegraphic money order business. Pennsylvania sued in a state court and obtained a judgment under a state statute for the escheat to itself of the amount of unclaimed money held by appellant and arising out of money orders bought in Pennsylvania and never cashed by the payees or refunded to the senders.

Held: Pennsylvania had no power to render a judgment of escheat which would bar New York or any other State from escheating the same property, and, therefore, the judgment was void under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 368 U. S. 72-77.

2. The controversy between the States as to which of them is entitled to this money can be settled by a suit in this Court under Art. III, § 2, of the Constitution. Pp. 368 U. S. 77-80.

400 Pa. 337, 162 A.2d 617, reversed.

Page 368 U. S. 72