S. D. Hatfield and Nancy C. Rutherford, Appts. v. Henry C. King, 184 U.S. 162 (1901)

184 U.S.
162
22 S.Ct. 477
46 L.Ed. 481
S. D. HATFIELD and Nancy C. Rutherford, Appts.,

v.
HENRY C. KING.
No. 221.
Submitted January 7, 1901.
Submission Set Aside January 21, 1901.
Submitted on Motion for Rule November 11, 1901.

Decided February 24, 1902.
On October 8, 1898, the appellee commenced this suit in the circuit court
of the United States for the district of West Virginia to quiet his title to
certain lands. In the bill he alleged that he was the owner in fee and in the
actual possession of a large tract, known as the 'Robert Morris 500,000,Acre Grant,' which was granted by Virginia in 1795 to Robert Morris, of
Philadelphia, and is situated partly in West Virginia, and partly in
Kentucky and Virginia. He followed this general allegation with a detailed
statement of his chain of title and of certain tax proceedings. After these
averments tending to show his own rights and title, he charged that Aly
and Joseph Hatfield, father and son, had at different times obtained
pretended titles to certain small tracts within the limits of his grant, stating
how these titles were obtained and wherein he claimed they were invalid.
He further averred that both the Hatfields were dead; that their only heirs
were the two defendants, now appellants, the widow and daughter of
Joseph Hatfield, who wrongfully claimed the tracts last mentioned and
thereby cast a cloud upon the plaintiff's title. No process was issued, but
on June 8, 1899, a demurrer was filed on behalf of the defendants, signed
by one appearing as their attorney. This demurrer was overruled on May
16, 1900, and leave given to file answer. Thereupon, as the record states,
the defendants declined to answer but elected to stand upon their
demurrer, and on June 2, 1900, a decree was entered in favor of plaintiff,
quieting his title to the lands claimed by the defendants. From this decree
an appeal was prayed and allowed to this court, and the appeal papers
were filed here on January 3, 1901.

The bill was so framed as to invite a consideration, in some aspects, of the
question of forfeiture for nonpayment of taxes, presented to this court in
King v. Mullins, 171 U. S. 404, 43 L. ed. 214, 18 Sup. Ct. Rep. 925.
At the beginning of this term one of the appellants, Nancy C. Browing
(erroneously, as she states, called Nancy C. Rutherford in the record)
moved for a rule against the attorney who had appeared for her, to show
by what authority he had assumed to so appear and why he should not be
attached and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys for falsely
assuming to act as her attorney and imposing upon the circuit and this
court a false, fictitious, and manufactured case for the purpose of
obtaining an opinion and judgment on a false statement of facts, to her
injury and the injury of others similarly situated but not parties to the suit
or appeal. She also asked that the alleged final decree of the circuit court
be declared null and void, and that this appeal and the cause be dismissed.
At the same time other parties, claiming to be interested in the Robert
Morris tract, appeared and represented that the entire proceedings had in
this case were feigned and fictitious; that the litigation on both sides was
controlled by the counsel for the plaintiff King, and asked an examination
as to the truth of the charge so made. A substantially similar motion was
made on behalf of the state of West Virginia. The counsel named in the
record have answered, denying these charges and asserting the fullest
integrity in the matter. Quite a number of affidavits have been filed, and
also some documentary evidence presented.
Mr. Henry C. Flesher for appellants on first submission of the case.
Mr. Maynard F. Stiles for appellee.
Messrs. Edgar P. Rucker, Holmes Conrad, Edward C. Lyon, W. P.
Hubbard, C. W. Campbell, and John M. Holt submitted the case on
motion for rule.
Mr. Maynard F. Stiles in opposition.
Mr. Justice Brewer delivered the opinion of the court:
It is contended by the appellants that the decree in the circuit court against
them ought to be set aside because they have not had the hearing in that court to
which they were entitled by law; that they were not served with process; that
counsel unauthorized by them entered their appearance, and after having
wrongfully entered their appearance failed to take the proper steps for the
protection of their rights.
2
It is also contended (though by other parties than the appellants) that there was
no real controversy between the parties nominally opposed to each other, and
that the litigation was in fact carried on under the direction and control of the
plaintiff. It is well settled that questions of this kind may be examined, upon
motion, supported by affidavits, and that it is the duty of a court to make such
inquiry, in order that it may not be imposed on by an apparent controversy to
which there are really no adverse parties. Shelton v. Tiffin, 6 How. 163, 186, 12
L. ed. 387, 397; Lord v. Veazie, 8 How. 251, 12 L. ed. 1067; Cleveland v.
Chamberlain, 1 Black, 419, 426, 17 L. ed. 93, 94; American Wood-Paper Co.
v. Heft, 8 Wall. 333, 19 L. ed. 378; East Tennessee, V. & G. R. Co. v. Southern
Teleg. Co. 125 U. S. 695, 31 L. ed. 853, 8 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1391; South Spring
Hill Gold Min. Co. v. Amador Medean Gold Min. Co. 145 U. S. 300, 36 L. ed.
712, 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 921; California v. San Pablo & T. R. Co. 149 U. S. 308,
37 L. ed. 747, 13 Sup. Ct. Rep. 876.
In Cleveland v. Chamberlain it was said, quoting from Lord v. Veazie: 'Any

attempt, by a mere colorable dispute, to obtain the opinion of the court upon a
question of law, which a party desires to know for his own interest or his own
purposes, when there is no real and substantial controversy between those who
appear as adverse parties to the suit, is an abuse which courts of justice have
always reprehended and treated as a punishable contempt of court.'
In Shelton v. Tiffin in question was as to the validity of a judicial sale, and it

appeared that one of the defendants in the proceedings had not been served with
process; that an attorney had entered an appearance for him but had done so
inadvertently and without authority, and it was said: 'An appearance by counsel
under such circumstances, to the prejudice of a party, subjects the counsel to
damages; but this would not sufficiently protect the rights of the defendant. He
is not bound by the proceedings, and there is no other principle which can
afford him adequate protection. The judgment, therefore, against L. P. Perry
must be considered a nullity, and consequently did not authorize the seizure and
sale of his property.'
If it be true, as claimed by some of the moving parties, that this is a collusive

suit, that there is no real controversy between the plaintiff and defendants, that
the plaintiff has been controlling the litigation on both sides with a view of
obtaining an opinion on a matter of law in which he is interested, the
transaction is one which as stated courts of justice have always reprehended,
and should be treated as a punishable contempt, and no decree entered under
those circumstances should be permitted to stand.

6
So far as respects permitting the decree to stand, the same result would follow,
even though there were no collusion, if the appearance of counsel was, in fact,
not authorized or ratified by the defendants; and to that matter alone shall we
direct our attention.
Before any proceedings could rightfully be taken against the defendants it was
essential that either they be brought into court by service of process, or that a
lawful appearance be made in their behalf. Confessedly they were not served
with process, and they now deny the right of counsel to have entered an
appearance for them. The evidence upon this, as well as kindred questions, is
principally in ex parte affidavits. The appellants were respectively the widow
and daughter of Joseph Hatfield, and claimed title to the various tracts by
inheritance from him. It appears that in 1895 an action of ejectment was
brought by King against several parties, these appellants among the number.
Mrs. Hatfield was led to employ in that case the same counsel who entered her
appearance in this. We do not stop to inquire into the circumstances which it is
alleged attended that employment. She swears that it was simply for that action
and a suit ancillary thereto brought to enjoin the cutting of timber; that she
never employed him in any other matter, and knew nothing of the pendency of
this suit until after the decree against her and the appeal to this court. She also
swears that she never attempted to act for her daughter in preparing for the
defense of any suit or action, or in making any arrangments for her. Mrs.
Browning testifies that at the time of the ejectment suit she was the widow of
John Rutherford; that on December 25, 1895, she married her present husband,
Albert Browning; that she had no notice or knowledge of the present suit, and
never directly or indirectly employed or authorized anyone to appear for her
therein, or in any other controversy or matter pertaining to said lands; and
further, never authorized any person to employ said counsel or any other
attorney to appear and represent her in this suit.
On the other hand, the counsel's affidavit is that he was employed by Mrs.
Hatfield in the prior action, and supposed he was authorized by the scope of
that employment to appear for her in this suit; that he had the title papers of
both the appellants in his possession, and had no suggestion of any revocation
of his authority. He introduced a copy of a letter from Mrs. Hatfield, which
supported his claim of employment, at least in the ejectment case. While he
testifies to having met and conversed with Mrs. Hatfield, he does not state that
he ever met Mrs. Browning or had any conversation or correspondence with
her, although he does state in a general way that she sanctioned and ratified the
action of her mother in employing him.
We do not deem it necessary to mention all the matters of evidence, but it

seems to us quite clear that, whatever may have been his understanding of the
matter, the counsel was not authorized to appear for Mrs. Browning. She had in
fact never employed him in any litigation in respect to these lands or otherwise,
nor had she authorized anyone to employ him, and she had no notice of the
pendency of this suit. As to Mrs. Hatfield, while she did at one time employ
him in other litigation, she knew nothing of the pendency of this suit until after
the decree and the appeal, and if the employment in the ejectment action was
sufficiently broad to cover all future litigation of any kind in respect to the land,
it would seem to have been so only in consequence of a contract which she says
was made, and which, if made, would stamp the whole transaction with wrong.
10
We do not stop to inquire whether the course pursued by counsel was under the
circumstances the best that could have been taken for the protection of the
appellants' rights. They were entitled to notice of the pendency of the suit to
select such counsel as they chose, and to be guided by his advice and judgment,
even though that advice and judgment should prove to be erroneous.
11
We have refrained from spreading upon our records a detailed statement of the
charges and countercharges made in the various motions and affidavits that
have been filed, and have only referred to so much as seemed necessary for the
present disposition of the case. But our reticence in this respect must not be
taken as expressive of a purpose to ignore them. The charges are serious ones,
affecting the integrity of counsel commended, by the fact of admission to the
bar of the circuit court, to the confidence of the community. They involve the
due administration of justice in that court, and cannot be passed without notice
and action. It is not enough that the doors of the temple of justice are open; it is
essential that the ways of approach be kept clean. We refrain from extended
comment because, as, heretofore stated, the testimony is mainly by ex parte
affidavits, which are often, this case being no exception, quite unsatisfactory,
and it is only through the sifting process of cross-examination that the real facts
can be disclosed. When the truth is ascertained, if there be wrongs as charged,
the language of judicial condemnation should be clear and emphatic, and a
punishment inflicted such as the wrongs deserve; and if no wrong has been
done the conduct of counsel will be cleared from suspicion. It is fitting that this
investigation should be had in the first place in the court where the wrong is
charged to have been done and before the judge who, if the charges are correct,
has been imposed upon by counsel, and it may be wise that both examination
and cross-examination be had in his presence.
12
The order therefore is that this case be remanded to the Circuit Court, with
instructions to set aside the decree as well as the appearance of defendants, and
to proceed thereafter in accordance with law; and also to make a full

investigation, in such manner as shall seem to it best, of the various charges of
misconduct presented in the motions filed in this court, and to take such action
thereon as justice may require.
13
Mr. Justice Harlan was not present at the argument of this case, and took no
part in its decision.

S. D. Hatfield and Nancy C. Rutherford, Appts. v. Henry C. King, 184 U.S. 162 (1901)

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184 U.S.

S. D. HATFIELD and Nancy C. Rutherford, Appts.,

Submitted on Motion for Rule November 11, 1901.

were filed here on January 3, 1901.

In Cleveland v. Chamberlain it was said, quoting from Lord v. Veazie: 'Any

In Shelton v. Tiffin in question was as to the validity of a judicial sale, and it

If it be true, as claimed by some of the moving parties, that this is a collusive

those circumstances should be permitted to stand.

We do not deem it necessary to mention all the matters of evidence, but it

to proceed thereafter in accordance with law; and also to make a full

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