United States v. Oliphant

230 F. 1, 144 C.C.A. 299, 1916 U.S. App. LEXIS 1427
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedFebruary 15, 1916
DocketNos. 2029-2033
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 230 F. 1 (United States v. Oliphant) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Oliphant, 230 F. 1, 144 C.C.A. 299, 1916 U.S. App. LEXIS 1427 (3d Cir. 1916).

Opinion

WOOLLEY, Circuit Judge.

The questions in these cases arose out of the failure of the clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey to report and pay to the government certain moneys, which he had collected through a long term of years for work done in connection with printing records for use in the Circuit Court and transmitting records for use in the Circuit Court of Appeals. These questions raise two inquiries, first, whether the work done in connection with printing records was a service connected with the office of the clerk, the fees or emoluments for which were payable lo the government; and second, whether the clerk’s charges for certified transcripts were made at the rate prescribed by statute.

The conduct out of which grew these questions was this: The principal defendant was sub-clerk and deputy clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey from 1875 to 1904, and was clerk of that court from 1904 to 1912, when the court was abolished. When he became clerk, he continued a practice, which, according to the testimony, had theretofore existed, if not with the approval, then with the acquiescence and knowledge of several judges. Under this practice he charged litigants for. printed copies of records in equity cases, for use in the Circuit Court, at the rate of $1.50 a page, paid for printing the same at the rate of $1.00 a page, and kept the difference. He omitted to make office entries of such transactions, and failed to include them in his emolument accounts and in his periodical reports to the government. Eor certified transcripts of records transmitted to the appellate court of the circuit, the defendant clerk made charges at the rate of 10 cents a folio. He likewise omitted to include these fees in his office records and emolument accounts, (though [4]*4noting therein the issuance of the transcripts) failed to report them to the government, and retained them for his own use.

The corftiuct of the clerk with respect to these matters had its origin in a rule of the Circuit Court, first promulgated in 1893 and with few changes again promulgated in 1898. This rule is as follows:

“Rule for Printing.
“1. In all suits in equity, tlie record and all proceedings in tbe cause stall be printed under the supervision of the Glerlt, before final bearing.
“2. All pleadings on demurrer, and tbe state of the case on rules to show cause at common law, shall be printed under the supervision of the Olerlc before tbe argument, if tbe record thereof shall exceed thirty folios.
“3. The Clerk shall cause an estimate to be made of tbe cost of printing record, and shall notify tbe party complainant (or plaintiff) of the amount of tbe estimate for printing tbe said record and proceedings on bis behalf, and tbe defendant of tbe amount for printing tbe record and proceedings on bis behalf and upon payment of tbe amount the Cleric, shall cause the record to be printed.
“4. Upon failure of either party to pay tbe amount estimated for printing, within a reasonable time, such proofs of tbe delinquent party will not be considered at the bearing, unless otherwise ordered by tbe Court.
“5. The amount of tbe costs for printing the record shall be taxed against tbe party against whom costs are given.”,

Three actions at law were instituted by the United States on the ihree bbnds of the clerk. The defendant, Henry D. Oliphant, is the principal in each of the bonds;,the other defendants are the sureties. The actions are conveniently referred to as first, second and third, having reference to the succession of the respective periods covered by the bonds. They were tried together, and, upon review, were heard together.

In the first suit, the government made two demands, covering the period of the first bond:

(a) For the moneys collected above the cost of printing records for use in the Circuit Court, representing fees or emoluments charged by the clerk for services rendered in supervising printing, — referred to throughout the case as “printing”; and

(b) For fees or emoluments collected by the clerk for services rendered in connection with certified transcripts of records of the Circuit Court, transmitted on appeal or writ of error to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, — referred to throughout the case as “transcripts.”

The defendant clerk admitted the acts upon which these claims were based, but justified them by his interpretation of the rule, and, as he claimed, by the contemporaneous interpretation given it by long continued practice and judicial and departmental acquiescence and approval.

The trial court submitted to the jury the question, whether-the work done in supervising printing constituted services performed by the clerk in connection with the duties of his office or constituted something else, accompanying the submission with appropriate instructions that, if found to be services, the verdict should be for the government, and if not, then for the defendants.

Upon the claim for moneys collected for transcripts, the court [5]*5directed a verdict for the government for an amount based upon a charge of 10 cents a folio, stating, as a matter of law, that to be the rate prescribed by the statute for such a service.

The jury found that the 'work done in connection with “printing” did not constitute services, and returned a verdict for the government only for the moneys collected for “transcripts,” which, together with interest, amounted to the sum of $6,224.56. Each party sued out a writ of error.

In the second stiit, the government made two similar demands, covering another period, resulting in like rulings by the court, a like finding by the jury, and a verdict for the government for $3,582.90. Each party prosecuted a writ of error.

In the third suit, the government made but one demand. This related to fees collected for printing during the third period. Upon this demand the court submitted the same question as it submitted upon like demands in the other suits. The jury made a like finding and rendered a verdict for the defendants. In this case the government alone sued out a writ of error.

The questions raised upon the writs of error, prosecuted by both parties, are susceptible of the following general classification:

First: Whether the defendant clerk should account for and pay to the government the difference between the cost of printing records for use in the Circuit Court and the amount charged therefor.

Second: Whether the court should have submitted to the jury, or decided as a matter of law, the question whether the moneys received by the clerk for printing records for use in the Circuit Court, were for services connected with his office.

Third: Whether testimony showing the origin and continuance of the clerks’ practice of obtaining printing at one price and charging for it at another, and retaining the difference, and showing the knowledge and acquiescence of judges and the department therein, was admissible in evidence.

Fourth:

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Related

In re Visking Corp.
134 F.2d 1013 (Fourth Circuit, 1943)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
230 F. 1, 144 C.C.A. 299, 1916 U.S. App. LEXIS 1427, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-oliphant-ca3-1916.