Hammond v. Johnston/Opinion of the Court

It is well settled that where the supreme court of a state decides a federal question in rendering a judgment, and also decides against the plaintiff in error upon an independent ground not involving a federal question, and broad enough to maintain the judgment, the writ of error will be dismissed without considering the federal question. Hopkins v. McLure, 133 U.S. 380, 10 Sup. Ct. Rep. 407; Hale v. Akers, 132 U.S. 554, 10 Sup. Ct. Rep. 171; Bridge Co. v. Ctiy of Henderson, 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 114. Tested by this rule, the writ of error must be dismissed, and it is so ordered.