In Whitman's Hand

Scribal Documents

About this Item

Title: W. A. Field to P. Phillips, 30 March 1870

Date: March 30, 1870

Whitman Archive ID: nar.01286

Source: National Archives and Records Administration. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.

Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang, Nima Najafi Kianfar, Kevin McMullen, and John Schwaninger



page image
image 1
page image
image 2

March 30, 1870.

P. Phillips, Esq.

Washington, D. C.

Sir:

On the docket of the present term of the Supreme Court, there is No. 188, Bank of Louisiana, appellant, vs. The United States—and No. 286, John C. Harris, et. al. appellant, vs. The United States, both of which are the same case, brought up by appeal by different claimants of the same property, from the District Court of the United States for the Middle District of Alabama, in which Court it was condemned as forfeited to the United States under the Confiscation Laws. The case was tried in the District Court without a jury, although it seems, one of the claimants, at least, demanded a jury trial,— and it is sufficiently manifest that the seizure was upon land.

These cases must go back and be tried according to the course of the common law. Mr. Chilton is Attorney of record in the first, and Mr. Thomas Wilson in the second—but I do not know the address of Mr. Wilson, though it may be in this city.

As you have sometimes appeared in the Supreme Court for Chilton, I desire to ask whether you feel authorized to do so in this case,—and, if so, whether there is any reason why it should be disposed of, on motion, next Friday?

A letter similar to this has been addressed to "Thomas Wilson, Esq. Washington, D. C."

Very respectfully,

W. A. Field,

Assistant Attorney General.


Sup. Ct. cases N. 188, & No. 286


Comments?

Published Works | In Whitman's Hand | Life & Letters | Commentary | Resources | Pictures & Sound

Support the Archive | About the Archive

Distributed under a Creative Commons License. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price, editors.