Ex parte De Groot

THIS was an application for a mandamus to the judges of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.

The petition was presented to that court praying for the award of a mandamus to the defendant, the Secretary of the Treasury, commanding him to pay to the relator the sum of $114,000, which had been awarded to him by the Secretary of War in pursuance of a joint resolution of Congress. The petition set out at large the grounds of the indebtedness of the government to the relator, the joint resolution, and the award of the Secretary of War for the amount above stated. The court below denied the prayer for a mandamus, and the papers were now presented to this court for a mandamus to the court below, for the purpose of reversing its decision, and commanding it to issue the mandamus.

Mr. Brent, for the petitioner.

Mr. Justice NELSON delivered the opinion of the court.