Case Name: UNITED STATES v. NEW YORK CENT. & H. R. R. CO. et al.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1908-06-25
Citations: 164 F. 324
Docket Number: No. 218
Parties: UNITED STATES v. NEW YORK CENT. & H. R. R. CO. et al.
Judges: Before UACOMBE, WARD, and NOYES, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 164
Pages: 324–326

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES v. NEW YORK CENT. & H. R. R. CO. et al.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
June 25, 1908.)
No. 218.
1. Courts — Reviewabde Orders —Order Abating-Judgment in Criminad Case.
A motion by the executrix of a person deceased to abate a judgment entered against Mm in a criminal action in Ms lifetime, because of his death after it was entered, is an independent proceeding of a civil nature, and the order or judgment therein may be reviewed on error by the United States.
[Ed. Note. — Orders decrees and judgments reviewable in Circuit Court of Appeals, see note to Salmon v. Mills, 13 C. C. A. 374.]
2. Criminad Law —Judgment—Declaring Judgment Abated —Power oe Court Aeter Term.
After the expiration of the term at which a' judgment was rendered against a defendant in a criminal case the court has no power by an order to declare such judgment abated because of the subsequent death of the defendant
Ward, Circuit Judge, dissenting.
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
For opinion below, see 152 Fed. 279.
See, also, 146 Fed. 298.
Henry L. Stimson, U. S. Atty. (Felix Frankfurter, Asst. U. S. Atty., of counsel), for the United States.
Austen G. Fox and John D. Linsay, for defendant in error.
Before UACOMBE, WARD, and NOYES, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
NOYES, Circuit Judge.
In May, 1906, Fred L. Pomeroy, an officer of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company, was indicted in the Circuit Court for offering, granting, and giving a rebate in violation of the so-called "Elkins Act." Act Feb. 19, 1903, c. 708, 32 Stat. 847 (U. S. Comp. St. Supp. 1907, p. 880). At the October term, 1906, for the trial of criminal causes, he was tried, convicted, and fined $6,000; the judgment being docketed at the time. Afterwards he died. In March, 1907, and after the final adjournment of the October term, the Circuit Court, upon the application of de fendant in error, as executrix of the will of said Pomeroy, entered an order declaring said judgment to have abated and to be no longer of any validity. The United States has taken the present writ to review such order.
At the outset the defendant contends that the government has no right to proceed in this way; that a writ of error can be sued out by the United States in a criminal case only to the Supreme Court, and to that court only in particular instances. The right of the government may be so limited in criminal cases. But this is not a criminal case. The issue in the criminal proceedings was the guilt of the accused. That issue had been determined before these proceedings were instituted. Indeed, the very occasion for these proceedings was the closing of the criminal case by the rendition of the judgment. Instead of being criminal in their nature, these proceedings constitute, in effect, a civil suit by the 'representative of Mr. Pomeroy's estate to relieve it from the payment of the judgment, for a cause wholly apart from the question of his guilt or innocence. The contention that the United States has no standing to prosecute this writ is, therefore, not well founded.
The order declares the judgment of no validity. But when it was entered the court had lost control of the judgment. It was a final judgment, and the term at which it was rendered had expired before any steps were taken. The court had no power to make the order, and its action in making it was erroneous. Phillips v. Negley, 117 U. S. 665, 6 Sup. Ct. 901, 29 L. Ed. 1013; Bronson v. Schulten, 104 U. S. 410, 26 L. Ed. 797; United States v. 1,621 Pounds of Fur Clippings, 106 Fed. 161, 45 C. C. A. 263.
We are asked to determine whether the death of Mr. Pomeroy operated to vacate the judgment. But the question does not arise. If the death in itself vacated the judgment, the order was unnecessary. If it did not have that effect, the order was necessary, provided the court had had power to make it. But, necessary or unnecessary, the order was erroneous, because it affected a judgment over which the court had no control.
The order is reversed.