Case Name: JOHNS et al. v. BRODHAG
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1804-12
Citations: 13 F. Cas. 708
Docket Number: Case No. 7,362
Parties: JOHNS et al. v. BRODHAG.
Judges: (FITZHUGH, Circuit Judge, absent)
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 13
Pages: 708–709

Head Matter:
Case No. 7,362.
JOHNS et al. v. BRODHAG.
[1 Cranch, C. C. 235.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Dec. Term, 1804.
Mr. Morsell, for plaintiffs,
Mr. Key, for defendant,
Sir. Mason and Mr.' Morsell, for plaintiffs,
[Reported by Hon. William Crunch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
THE COURT
(FITZHUGH, Circuit Judge, absent)
were of opinion that the surety was entitled only to the priority of payment out of the effects of the insolvent; not to the trial at the first term: Because the clause giving such trial is subsequent to the clause which gives "the like advantage, priority," &c.; because, by the words of the act, the priority of suit is only given when the duties are due to the United States; because the defendant cannot get a continuance of the cause unless the attorney of the United States be present; and because, in a suit by a surety, many more facts can be pleaded by the defendant than in a suit by the United States — such as the surety had not paid, or an offset, or that he was not insolvent, &c.
The motion was overruled, and the cause took its regular course through the dockets.