614
83 FEDERAL REPORTER.
S,oclal CIrcle the charge was 30 cents more, which, however, was paid exclusively to the Georgia Railroad. Complaint was made to the Interstate commerce commission. The commission examined Into the matter, and Issued its order, in two parts. They held that the charge of 30 cents additional to Social Circle was in conflict with the long and short haul clause, and ordered defendants to desist therefrom. And they add that the said defendants do also, from and after, the 20th day of July, 1891, wholly cease and desist from charging or receiving any,greater aggregate compensation for the transportation of buggies, carriages, Blld other first-class articles, in less than car loads, from Cincinnati aforesaid, to Atlanta, in the state of Georgia, than $1 per 100 pounds. ApplicatIon was made to the circuit court of the United 'States for the Northern dlfltrlct of Georgia to. enforce these orders. The court, after full hearing, declined ta grant the application. Interstate Commerce Commission v. Cincinnati, N. O. & T. P. Ry. Co., 56 Fed. 925. The cause was carried by appeal to the circuit court of appeals of the Fifth circuit. 9 C. C. A. 689. That court adopted and .lUstained that portion of the order of the interstate commerce commission which related to the rate to Social Circle, but it disapproved and annulled that portion of the order which commanded the defendants to desist from charging for the transportation of freight of IlJ;:e character from Cincinnati to Atlanta more than $1. per 100 pounds. Both parties went up by appeal to the supreme court,the railroads from so much of the judgment of the circuit court of appeals as relates to the freight charges to Social Circle, and the commission from so much of' the decree as denies the relief prayed for in the charges fixed by It on freight from Cincinnati to Atlanta. The cause was elaborately and earnestly argued. The supreme court sustained the circuit court of appeals in both questions. It held that the latter part of the order of the Interstate commerce commission was an attempt to fix rates between Cincinnati and Atlanta. On that point the court says: 'Whether congress intended to confer upon the interstate commerce commission the power to fix rates was mooted in the courts below, and Is discussed in the briefs of counsel. We do not find any provision of the act that expressly, or by necessary implication, confers such power,' The case at bar seems to be on all fours with this case. The interstate commerce commission asks this court to enforce its orders fixing rates for truck between Charleston and New York. The court can oniyenforce the lawful orders of the commission. As has been seen, the commission is not warranted by the act of congress to fiX rates, and to this extent Its order is not lawful. The bill Ia dismissed."
The decree appealed from is affirmed.
'!'HOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO. v. JEFFREY MANUF'G CO. et aI. (Circuit Court, S. D. Ohio, E. D. No. 79S. TAKING OF DEPOSITIONS-OBJECTIONS TO TESTIMONy-MISCONDUCT 011' COUNSEL.
December 7, 1897.)
In taking depositions in an equity suit, counsel cannot assume to pass upon questions of the competency, materiality, and relevancy of testimony, and instruct his witnesses not to answer questions put to them on croSllexamination; and where a Witness, In obedience to such instructions, retuses to answer, his entire deposition will be stricken from the files.
This was a suit in equity by the Thomson-Houston Electrio Company against the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company and others for alleged infringement of a patent. Motion to strike deposition from the files. Betts, Hyde & Betts, for complainant. H. H. Bliss and John RBtmnett, for respondents.
THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO. V. JEFFREY MANUF'a CO.
615
SAGE, DistriCt Judge. Defenda.nts move to strike from the files the entire deposition of witness E. M. Bentley, called and examined as an expert by the complainant on the prima facie case, or to compel him. to 33 questions put by counsel for the defendants on cross-examination, and which· he declined to answer under advice of counsel for the complainant. All these questions were objected to as immaterial, irrelevant, and hypothetical. Oounsel for complainant insist that the issue in the case involved in this matter is whether .defendants' construction, as proved by Mr. Bulkley, a witness for complaint, is an embodiment of the claim in suit. The suit is upon patent No. 495,443, for traveling contact for electrie railways, applied for by Charles J. Van Depoele; and assigned to complainant. The witness BentleY,in his direct testimony, defines the invention in controversy as follows: "The device Itself Is characterized by a long swinging arm, extending obl1quely upward from the car to the conduct.or. · * · The long swinging arm carried at Its outer end a contact device, which Is made to bear on the underside of the conductor, while Its inner end of the same arm Is joined to the car, on both a transverse and vertical axis, so that the contact device on Its deouter end may be swung laterally through a wide arc. and may also pressed vertically through a considerable distance. This arrangement allows the contact device to · · · follow readily In Its variations, vertically and laterally, the line of the conductor. .· · ."
In cross-examination he was asked: "W'bat would you suggest as the proper average height of the conductor wire above the cars? "A. At present, In street-car work, the conductor Is some six or eight feet above the roof. . "29 xq. And what Is the length of the extreme play on a vertical line of a trolley wheel, and which you would advise as the best to meet the ordinary requirements? "A. In some roads the height of the trolley wire varies from fourteen to twenty-four feet, and the trolley wheel, to have a capacity for meeting the extreme condition, should have a vertical play of ten feet."
He was then asked to state the length of defendants' device,which was used in the tunnel of a coal mine,-as shown upon their exhibit ("Sketch Vintondale Locomotive"), and answered that the arm was only three feet long, and that on that locomotive, if it was three feet and a half between the axles as shown by said sketch, the trolley poles were about three feet long. Further examined as to the structure of defendants' plant, he answered as follows: "Then, assuming that the coal Is of a thickness above the average, we will say six feet, for anything now within our knowledge, it may be true, may it not, that the trolley wheel on that Vintondale locomotive never vibrates more than six inches relative to the top plane of the locomotive, may it not? "A. Of course, if the trolley wire is so arranged with reference to the track that It never varies more than six inches from its level with relation thereto, the arm would not vibrate more than six inches."
Oounsel for the defense then sought to interrogate him with respect to the application of the patent, and of the invention to defendants' mechanism, as follows: "31 xq. Let us then assume from now on that a commercially successful car COIlStructed on the pIan of thl8 illustrated In the patent In sult would require
616
a trolley equipment which would permit the trolley wheel to vibrate through a distance of ten feet. "Please take the drawing which I now hand you, which delineates precisely the same parts and arrangement that is shown in the drawings in this Van Depoele patent in SUit, except that the trolley· wheel is limited to a vibration of six and I ask whether a construction in accordance with this drawing would contain the subject-matter' of claims 2, 4, S, 12, and 16. "(Counsel for complainant objects to the question as immaterial and hypothetical, and is not an issue raised by any of the pleadings in this case, and instructs the witness that he need not consider any drawings or structure which Is not properly proven in this case.) "A. In view of the Instruction of counsel, I decline to consider your drawing. "32 xq. You have already in the record In this case stated under oath as follows: "'A long arm mounted on, top of the car carrying a grooved wheel at Its outer end, and continually pressed upward against the undersurface of the wire, and having capacity of swinging through several feet on a vertical pivor, and of also swinging through a number of feet upon a horizontal hinge or pivot, was the thing which made overhead systems of electric railroads a success for general use.' "Disliking to indulge in hypothetical questions which cannot be exactly and accurately dellneated, I have made this drawing for the purpose of getting a clear definition of your understanding of the Invention In controversy, and of the scope of the claims which you have referred to In your direct examination. My question, coupled with this drawing, I believe to be as accurate and specific as It is possible to put it in order to ascertain your meaning when using on this record, as you have, such terms as 'a lcmg arm,' and an arm 'swinging through a number of feet on a horizontal hinge or piVOt.' I am desirous, on behalf of the defendants, of ascertaining to what extent these matters enter into the invention in controversy. "And, with this explanation, I repeat the question, and ask whether, first, this drawing is sUfficiently Intelligible for you to understand the question. "(Complainant's counsel requests defendants' counsel to state the number of the question and answer of the witness from which he purports to have made a quotation. "(Counsel for defendants replies that, If the last note of complainant's counsel is Intended to challenge proof of identity as to this witness being the same party who filed two or three different affidavits with the preliminary injunction papers, he replies that he is astonished at any such effort, and supposed that would be waived. In direct reply to the last Inquiry, he states that the above quotation was made from the affidavit of one ID. M. Bentley, filed in this record, with the papers accompanying the motion for preliminary injunction. To assure himself, he temporarily withdraws the last question, and presents the following:) "33 xq. Are you the same E. M. Bentley who filed three affidaVits in this cause, and which were used at the hearing of the motion for preliminary injunction? "A. I made, I believe, three affidavits for use in this cause on the motion for preliminary injunction, and I presume they were filed and used. "34 xq. Please turn to page 176 of the printed record of complainant, prepared for the presentation of the motion for preliminary injunction, and ascertain whether the quotation I have above made from the.second affidavit is correct, and whether you made that statement. "(Objected to, as calling for a merely fragmentary portion of the affidavit referred to, while the whole of the affidavit should be considered, and not merely a small portion thereof.) "A. You have quoted correctly from my affidavit in this case. "(Counsel for defendants here introduces In evidence the draWing handed with cross-question 31, and the same is marked 'Defendants' Exhibit, Drawing No.1, F. M. A., Notary Public, Aug. 11, 1897.' "(Complainant's counsel objects to the same, as immaterial, Irrelevant, and Incompetent, and not properly proven.) "35 xq. Then I again ask you to take this drawing in eVidence, now marked 'Delendants' Drawing No.1,' and ask-First, whether the construction there
THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO. V. JEFFREY MANUF'G CO.
617
ind1cated Is intelIlgible to you under the definition I gave above, and, secondly, whether a mechanism constructed In accordance therewith would ful1Ul the requirements presented in your language In your affidavit above quoted. "(Complainant's counsel again - objects to the question, as immaterial and irrelevant and hypothetical, ,In that the exhibit referred to has not been properly proven, nor is any Issue raised thereon by any of the pleadings In this case, and instructs the witness that he need not consider or answer this question. "A. I must decline to eonsider your drawing or answer the question. "(Answers to xq.'s 31 and 34 are now objected to as not responsive, and in due time motion will be made by the defendants to strike the entire deposition from the record, because thereof. "(Complainant's counsel states that he shall require the defendants to give due notice of said motion, and that he shall consider that, If such moti(ln is not made prior to the beginning of the taking of defendants' proofs herein, he shall consider that the defendants have withdrawn their notice of motion.) "36 xq. You have in your direct examination stated as follows: " 'This contact device consists of a long swinging arm. The device itself is characterized by a l(lng swinging arm extending obliquely upward from the car to the conductor, and taking the place of a flexible conductor cord, such as was commonly used. * * * The long swinging arm carries at its outer end a contact deVice, which Is made to bear on tbe underside of the conductor, while at Its inner end the said arm Is joined to the car on both a transverse and a vertical ax1s, so that the contact device on its outer end, consisting ordinarlIy of a grooved roller, may be swung laterally through a wide are, and may also be depressed vertically through a considerable distance.' "And I fail to find in this language anything definite or exact as defining the terms 'long,' 'considerable distance,' etc. "And, In order that I may get an accurate understanding of your meaning, I again call your attention to this drawing In evidence, marked 'Defendants' Exhibit Drawing No.1,' and ask whether the subject-matter there shown conforms to your words above quoted. "The drawing -Is presented for the purpose of avoiding purely hypothetical questions In mere words, and to assist in seeing exactly the meaning of my question, and Is presented with 1:he understanding on my part that It Is an exact copy of the drawings which you have been discussing in the patent Itself, with the one exception as to the length of the arm. "(Complainant's counsel makes the same objection as made to the last question, and repeats the same Instructions given to the witness as that given In respect to the last question, In view of the fact that the question Is still hypothetical, as the exhibit referred to is not at issue In this case, and Is not raised by any of the pleadings herein, nor Is it properly proven.) "A. I must again decline to express opinions in regard to the structure of Defendants' Exhibit Drawing No. 1. "(Answer is objected to, as not responsive, and the notice for striking out is . repeated. "(Complainant's counsel mall:es the same statement as to notice given in reo gpect to last answer.) "37 xq. Does this exhibit, Defendants' Drawing No.1, present matter whIch Is Immaterial to this controversy? "(The same objections and instructions to the witness, and as a question for the counsel and the court to determine.) "A. In view of the instructions of counsel, I wllI still decline to discuss the drawing in question. "(Defendants' objections, and notice repeated. "(Complainant's statement in regard t(l said notice repeated.) "38 xq. Then you refuse to answer without knowing whether my question and the drawing Illustrating It present anything material to this controversy; is that correct? "A. I understand that the question of materlallty is one of law, which is outside of my province, and I am following the Instructions of complainant's coun. sel in decllning to discuss the matter. "39 xq. You mean you refuse to answer these questions without knowing whether or not thIs exhibIt, Defendants' Drawing No.1, clearly shOWilY
618
88 FE.DEaAL REPORTER.
",.'An electric railway having. In combination a car, a conductor suspended. above thel:iD.e.O'1! travel of the. car, au ,arm pivotally supported on top of the car, and provided at its outer end with 9. contl1ct engaging the underside of the suspended conductor, and a. tension spring· at or near the inner end of the arm for maintaining such upward pressure contact.' "I thus quote the eighth claim of the patent, in order to ellminate the necessity of your remarks concerning your being the judge of 'materiality.' My question is this: You have refused to answer these questions without knowing whether this illustrative drawil1g exhibits the subject-matter of this quoted language or not; am I right? "A. Yes, sir."
. ThroughOut, counsel for complainant not only noted objections to the questions, but assumed to decide finally and conclusively as to the competency, materiality, and relevancy of testimony sought to be brought out upOn cross-examination, and, taking the witness completely under contrOl, instructed and compelled him to refuse to answer. In .' support of this extraordinary course of procedure, they cite Oleveland Faucet 00. v. Syracuse Faucet Co., 77 Fed. 210, and Oonsolidated Fastener 00. v. Oolumbian Fastener 00., 79 Fed. 800. But in .each of these cases the testimony objected to was in the record, and was passed upon by the court. I know of no precedent for the proposition that counsel may play the role of chancellor, and, upon their own judgment, close the mouths of witnesses. In v.Garlington, 92 U. S., at page 7, the supreme court of the United States said: "The examiner before whom the witnesses are orally examined is required to note exceptions, but he cannot decide upon their validity. He must take down all the examination in writing, and send it to the court with the objections noted. So, too, when depositions are taken according to the acts of congress or otherwise, under the rules, exceptions to the testimony may be noted by the officer taking the deposition, but he is not permitted to decide upon them; and when the testimony, as reduced to writing by the examiner, or the deposition, 1s filed in court, further exceptions may be there taken. Thus, both the exceptions and the testimony objected to are all before the court below, and come here upon the appeal as part of the record and proceedings there."
What is said of examiners in this extract applies with much greater force to counsel for the respective parties, retained as they are for partisan services. and utterly incapacitated and unfit to exercise judicial functions in the ca.se, however capable they might be if in a situation to be entirely unprejudiced and impartial. For the reasons stated in Blease v. Garlington. courts do not suppress testimony unless it be grossly and flagrantly impertinent and scandalous. The result of suppressing is to expunge the testimony from the record, which would deprive the party affected of opportunity for relief in the appellate court. See Smith v. Newland. 40 Ill. 100; McOabe v. Hussey, 2 Dow & O. 452; Appleton v. Ecaub>ert, 45 Fed. 281; Adee v. Iron Works, 46 Fed. 39; and Lloyd v. Pennie, 50 Fed. 4. I will not say that upon an appeal to a federal judge a vexatious, unreasonable, or unconscionable examination of witnesses will not be put a stop to, or that a witness may not, pleading privilege, refuse to anSwer, and make an appeal to a federal judge for instructions necessary; but I do say that the assumption by counsel of authority such as has been claimed and exercised in this case will not
AMERICAN STRAWBOARD CO. V. HALDEMAN PAPER CO.
619
be t()lerated in this court. The motion will be granted. The entire of E. M.Bentley will be stricken from the :flles, and furt_her testimony for the complainant (its time for testimony in chief having expired) will be allowed only upon the condition of its first reimbursing the defendants their costs and expenses by reason of the taking of said deposition. AMERICAN STRAWBOARD CO.v. RALDl<JMAN PAPER 00. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. December 7, 1897.) No. 499. L LEASE-COVENANTS-VALIDITY.
A covenant in.a lease of a paper mill, with privilege of purchase, that the lessee will not during the term, nor for 20 years in case of purchase, make on the premises certain classes of paper, which the lessor is engaged in making elsewhere, is valid, and binds assignees, although they are Dot mentioned. Whether, in case of purchase, such covenant, when inserted In the deed, would technically run with the land, or not, it is enforceable in equity against all owners with notice. actual or constructive. An assignee electing to purchase is bound to accept a deed containing the restrictive covenant. Readiness to perform on his part is lacking, and he cannot recover.for a breach of the covenant to convey, when it appears that he persisted in demanding a deed without restriction of use.
S.
SAME-ENFORCEMENT.
VENDOR AND PURCHASER-CON'l'RACT-RESTRICTING USE OF PREMISES.
4,
SAME-BREACH OF COVENANT TO CONVEY.
Although the restrictive clause in the deed tendered by the lessor be improperly drawn, this is not a breach of the covenant to convey; and no tender of a proper deed is necessary for defense, when the demands and declarations of the lessee show that such tender would be vain.
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Western Division of the Southern District of Ohio. Action by the Haldeman Paper Company against the American Strawboard Company for damages for breach of a contract to convey a mill property. There was judgment for plaintiff, and defendant brings error. By an indenture of lease dated June 27, 1891, the American Strawboard Company, a corporation largely engaged In the manufacture of strawboard and other wood pulp products, and owning and operating a number of strawboard mllls. demised to George N. Friend, his heirs and assigns, one of its manufacturing plants known as the Rockdale Mills, for a term of three years, the consent of the lessor being necessary to any assignment of the lease. There was also a provision giving to the lessee an option of purchase to be exercised within one year from October 1, 1891, at the price of $25,000, one-fourth in cash and remainder in equal installments in one, two, and three years, with Interest. the deferred payments to be secured by a mortgage and insurance on the premIses. Should this option be exercised, the lessor covenanted to convey the property by "good and sufilcient warranty deed." Among other covenants by the lessee there was one in these words: "Said second party further covenants and agrees with said first party, its successors and assigns, as part of the consideration of this agreement, and as an inducement to said first party to enter iIllto this agreement, that he shall not and will not, during the term created by this lease, or any extension thereof, or in case of the purchase of said premises as above provided within the period of twenty years from date hereof (except In the capacity of officer, agent, stockholder, or employll of said first party), directly or indirectly, as employer, employ6, agent, officer, stockholder, or