Case Name: MOULDER v. FORREST
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1869-02-15
Citations: 154 U.S. 567
Docket Number: No. 371
Parties: MOULDER v. FORREST.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 154
Pages: 567–567

Head Matter:
MOULDER v. FORREST.
ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
No. 371.
Argued February 5, 1869.
Decided February 15, 1869.
A writ of error is fatally defective if it lacks the test required by law, and the defective writ cannot be amended here.
The case is stated in the opinion.
Mr. Nathaniel Wilson for plaintiff in error.
Mr. W. S. Cox for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Mr. Chief Justice Chase
delivered the opinion of the court.
The motion to dismiss the writ of error for want of the test required by the process act of 1789, 1 U. S. Stat. 93, must be allowed. The defect in the test was doubtless occasioned by an oversight of the clerk below; but a majority of the court is of the opinion that the writ cannot be amended here without departure from its established practice. Insurance Company v. Mordecai, 21 How. 195; Porter v. Foley, 21 How. 393. Dismissed.