Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Co. v. Union Bank of Georgetown, 33 U.S. 259 (1834)

U.S. Supreme Court

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Co. v. Union Bank of Georgetown, 33 U.S. 8 Pet. 259 259 (1834) Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Co. v. Union Bank of Georgetown

33 U.S. (8 Pet.) 259

ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR

THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Syllabus

In conformity with the charter of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company, an inquisition, issued at the instance of the company, by a justice of the peace in the County of Washington, District of Columbia, addressed to the marshal of the district, was executed and returned to the Circuit Court of the County of Washington, estimating the value of the lands mentioned in the warrant, and all the damages the owners would sustain by cutting the canal through the land at $1,000. Certain objections being filed to the inquisition, the court quashed the same, and a writ of error was brought on this judgment.

By the Court:

"The order or judgment, in quashing the inquisition in this case is not final. The law authorizes the court, 'at its discretion, as often as may be necessary, to direct another inquisition to be taken.' The order or judgment, therefore, quashing the inquisition is in the nature of an order setting aside a verdict for the purpose of awarding a venire facias de novo."

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

In pursuance of a warrant of inquisition issued at the instance of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company, by John Cox, a justice of the peace in and for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, and addressed to the marshal of the said district, an inquest of office was held by the said marshal on certain lands in the said warrant mentioned lying in the said county. The inquisition of the marshal and jurors, returned to the Circuit Court for the County of Washington, estimated the value of the lands in the warrant mentioned, and all the damages that the owners hereof would sustain by cutting the said canal through the said land, at one thousand dollars. Upon the return of the said warrant, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company by their counsel, moved the court for an order to have the same affirmed and recorded, unless good cause

Page 33 U. S. 260

be shown to the contrary. At a subsequent day, the Union Bank of Georgetown appeared by attorney and filed certain objections to the said inquisition, which being argued, it was considered by the court that the said inquisition be quashed, which judgment was brought before this Court by writ of error.

This proceeding is in conformity with the charter of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company, which was originally passed by the Legislature of Virginia in January, 1824, and afterwards by the Legislature of Maryland in December of the same year. The act of Virginia was ratified and confirmed by the Congress of the United States in March, 1825, so far as may be necessary for enabling the company formed by authority of the act to carry into effect the provisions thereof in the District of Columbia.

The charter empowers the president and directors of the company

"to agree with the owners of any land through which the said canal is intended to pass for the purchase or use and occupation thereof, and in case of disagreement to apply to a justice of the peace of the county in which the land may lie for a warrant of inquisition on which such proceedings are directed as have been had in this case. The officer is to return this inquisition to the clerk of his county, and unless good cause be shown against it, it shall be affirmed by the court and recorded, but if the said inquisition should be set aside, or if, from any cause, no inquisition shall be returned to such court within a reasonable time, the said court may, at its discretion, as often as may be necessary, direct another inquisition to be taken in the manner above prescribed."

Before entering on the merits of the judgment of the circuit court for quashing this inquisition, a preliminary question is made to the jurisdiction of this Court. Its appellate jurisdiction is extended by the act of Congress creating the circuit court for the district to "any final judgment, order or decree, in said circuit court where the matter in dispute, exclusive of costs, shall exceed the value," &c.

The order or judgment in quashing the inquisition in this case is not final. The law authorizes the court, "at its discretion, as often as may be necessary, to direct another inquisition to be taken." The order or judgment, therefore, quashing

Page 33 U. S. 261

the inquisition is in the nature of an order setting aside a verdict for the purpose of awarding a venire facias de novo.

The writ of error is to be

Dismissed, the Court having no jurisdiction of the cause.

This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Columbia holden in and for the County of Washington, and was argued by counsel, on consideration whereof, it is considered, ordered, and adjudged by this Court that this writ of error be and the same is hereby dismissed for want of jurisdiction.