Mandeville v. Burt

On appeals from the circuit court of the United States for the District of Columbia, in the county of Alexandria.

These cases were submitted to the court by Mr Lee, for the appellants; no counsel appeared for the appellees.

Mr Lee stated, that the cases depend mainly upon the principles of the decision of the supreme court, rendered at January term 1829, in the case of Romulus Riggs v. The Stockholders of the Merchants Bank, reported in 2 Peters 482, under the name of Mandeville and others v. Riggs.

In the present cases, there is an additional objection to the decree in each of them, which is, that no bill was ever filed. It appears, from the proceedings, that it was agreed, that the answers in the case of Riggs, were to be filed in these cases; it is contended, that that was to be done when bills were filed.

The appellants insist in these cases, on the same objections to the decree of the circuit court, which were urged in the case of Riggs, with that of a want of a bill.

Mr Chief Justice MARSHALL delivered the opinion of the Court.