Case Name: The Bank of Columbia v. Bunnel & Robertson
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1822-04
Citations: 2 Cranch 306
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Bank of Columbia v. Bunnel & Robertson.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 306–307

Head Matter:
The Bank of Columbia v. Bunnel & Robertson.
An execution issued by order of the President of the Bank of Columbia, without judgment, ought not to include the notary’s fee for a protest, but if the bank releases the fee, the Court will not quash the execution.
Such an execution may include five dollars for an attorney’s fee, and the interest which has accrued upon the debt up to the time of ordering the execution.
Motion, by Mr. Redin, for the defendant,
to quash three writs of fieri facias against the defendants as indorsers of Edward Ford’s note issued by order of the President of the Bank of Columbia, under the 14th section of its charter of 1793, c. 30, which authorizes him upon non-payment of a note, made expressly negotiable at that bank, to order execution, “ on which the debt and costs may be levied by selling the property of the defendant for the sum mentioned in the said note,” “ provided ” the President shall “ make oath,” “ ascertaining whether the whole or what part of the debt due to the bank ” “ on the said” note, “ is due.”
Mr. Redin made three objections to these executions.
1st. That each execution included five dollars for an attorney’s fee.
2d. That they included not only the debt, but the interest up to the time of ordering the executions ; and
3d. That each execution included $1.75 for cost of protest.
It has been decided by this Court, and by the Supreme Court, that it is not necessary to protest a promissory note ; and the notary’s fee for protesting is no part of the legal taxable costs. No attorney’s fee can be taxed upon an execution.
Mr. Key, contra.
Although this is an execution, yet it is the commencement of a suit. Both parties may appear at the return and litigate the case. The bank could only appear by attorney.

Opinion:
The Court
(nem. con.) decided that the fee for protest ought not to be included ; and (Thruston, J., contra,) that the attorney's fee might be included. But upon the bank releasing the cost of protest, the Court (nem. con.) refused to quash the executions.