Seymour v. Freer, 72 U.S. 822 (1866)

U.S. Supreme Court

Seymour v. Freer, 72 U.S. 5 Wall. 822 822 (1866) Seymour v. Freer

72 U.S. (5 Wall.) 822

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT

COURT FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Syllabus

Where, through mistake or accident, no bond, or a defective bond, has been filed, this Court will not dismiss the appeal -- if it is in all other respects quite regular -- except on failure to comply with an order to give the proper security within such reasonable time as it may prescribe.

This was a motion to dismiss an appeal because the bond for the prosecution of the appeal was not filed within ten days after the decree.

It appeared that the decree in the circuit court was drawn and placed in the lands of the clerk on the 15th of November, 1866, upon an understanding by the counsel, sanctioned by the court, that it was to be entered, when approved by the court, as of that day. It was retained for several days by the judge, who required a stipulation from counsel in respect to the receiver appointed by the decree, and was then returned to the clerk, and entered on the 20th as of the 15th. The bond was filed on the 28th.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE delivered the opinion of the Court.

We think that for the purposes of appeal this decree must be regarded as having been passed on the 20th, and that the bond was filed in time.

But it this were otherwise, and through mistake or accident no bond or a defective bond had been filed, this Court would not dismiss the appeal except on failure to comply with an order to give the proper security within such reasonable time as it might prescribe. * What is essential to an

Page 72 U. S. 823

appeal is allowance, citation to the appellees, or equivalent notice or waiver, and the bringing up of the record at the next term of this Court. Security for prosecution should be taken by the judge on signing the citation, but if this duty be omitted or defectively performed, a remedy can be applied here on motion.

In the present case, a bond, admitted to be sufficient for costs of prosecution, whether given in time to make appeal operate as a supersedeas or not, was filed in the court below before removal to this Court.

The motion to dismiss the appeal must therefore be

Denied.

* Brobst v. Brobst, 2 Wall. 96.