Case ID: us-ct-cl_22/html/0159-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Eichaedson, Ch. J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ELISHA NELSON v. THE UNITED STATES.
    [No. 207, Congressional.
    Decided March 21, 1887.]
    
      On the Proofs.
    
    The claimant’s cotton at Jackson, Tenn., was taken in 1863 for use in the breastworks. After a few weeks it was removed and stored, and all but four bales returned to the owner. The four bales the provost-marshal refused to surrender. What became of them does not appear.
    When cotton was seized for military purposes, a portion returned, and a portion retained by the military authorities, the owner’s remedy for the latter was under the Abandoned or Captured Property Act, and jurisdiction cannot be entertained under the Bowman Act.
    
      The Reporters’ statement of the case:
    The case was submitted by counsel upon the evidence without argument. The facts so far as they are found by the court are stated in the opinion.
    
      Mr. 'Gilbert Moyers for the claimant.
    
      Mr. Beber J. May (with whom was Mr. Assistant Attorney-General Boioard) for the defendants.
   Eichaedson, Ch. J.,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This case was reported to the court by the Committee on War Claims of the House of Eepresentatives, December 22, 1884, under the provisions of the Bowman Act.

It appears that the claimant and John G-. Owen and Eichard G. Thomas claimed to be the owners of a large number of bales of cotton at Jackson, Tenn., which were taken by the Army of the United States about February, 1863, for use in the Army breastworks at that place.

That after a few weeks said cotton was removed from the breastworks and stored, and all but four bales were returned to said owners.

That said four bales the provost-marshal refused to surrender, because, as he said, the Government cotton was' short four or five bales, and he was going to keep these to make up for losses. What became of the cotton does not appear.

The facts show that this case came within the jurisdiction of the Captured and Abandoned Property Act of March 12, 1863 (12 Stat. L., 820), the right to maintain actions under which expired in two years after the suppression of the rebellion.

The cause of action is therefore barred within the meaning of the Bowman Act (22 Stat. L., 485), for the reason given in the case of Topp & Vance v. The United States (21 C. Cls. B., 488), and the court having no jurisdiction thereof the case is dismissed.

The clerk will report a copy of the foregoing to the Committee on War Claims of the House of Bepresentatives.

Nott, J., was absent when the case was submitted, and took no part in the decision.