Smith v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 398 (1878)
U.S. Supreme Court
Smith v. Railroad Company, 99 U.S. 398 (1878)
Smith v. Railroad Company
99 U.S. 398
Syllabus
1. The jurisdiction of the federal courts cannot be affected by state legislation, and they will enforce equitable rights created by such legislation if they have jurisdiction of the subject matter and the parties.
2. A., an alleged creditor of B., whose claim had not been established at law, filed his bill against the latter, averring him to be insolvent, and against C., a debtor of B., praying that the debt due from C. be applied to the payment of that claim. There being no assignment to A. by B. of his debt against C., and no lien upon the fund in the hands of the latter, held that the bill could not be sustained.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.