Spencer v. United States, 91 U.S. 577 (1875)

U.S. Supreme Court

Spencer v. United States

91 U.S. 577

Syllabus

No suit can be maintained against the United States under the Abandoned and Captured Property Act, 12 Stat. 820, if the property in question was neither captured, seized, nor sold pursuant to its provisions and the proceeds were not paid into the Treasury.

U.S. Supreme Court

Spencer v. United States

91 U.S. 577

APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF CLAIMS

Syllabus

No suit can be maintained against the United States under the Abandoned and Captured Property Act, 12 Stat. 820, if the property in question was neither captured, seized, nor sold pursuant to its provisions and the proceeds were not paid into the Treasury.

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

In this case, the Court of Claims has certified here, in answer to inquiries from us, (1) that the cotton in question did not come into the hands of any agent of the United States as abandoned or captured property, and was not sold as such,

Page 91 U. S. 578

and (2) that the proceeds of the sale were not paid into the Treasury of the United States.

Upon this state of facts, the judgment of the court below was clearly right. It is certain that no suit can be maintained against the United States under the Abandoned and Captured Property Act if the property has neither been captured, seized, nor sold pursuant to its provisions and the proceeds are not in the Treasury.

Judgment affirmed.