Garnharts v. United States

ERROR to the District Court for the Middle District of Alabama; in which court, on an information against certain distilled spirits seized on land, and answer and claim, the court, on motion of the district attorney of the United States, ordered the claim and answer to be stricken from the files; and refusing to let the claimants either amend the old answer or file a new one, entered a decree condemning the property seized.

To this action of the court the claimants excepted, and brought the question of its propriety here.

Messrs. J. W. Noble and N. P. Chipman, for the claimant, plaintiffs in error; Mr. G. H. Williams, Attorney-General, and Mr. C. H. Hill, Assistant Attorney-General, contra.

Mr. Justice CLIFFORD stated the case more fully, and delivered the opinion of the court.