Opinion of the Court.

such appeal shall be final and conclusive; and such vessel, or merchandise, or costs and charges, shall be liable to duty accordingly, unless suit shall be brought within ninety days after the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury on such appeal for any duties which shall have been paid before the date of such decision on such vessel, or on such merchandise, or costs or charges, or within ninety days after the payment of duties paid after the decision of the Secretary. No suit shall be maintained in any court for the recovery of any duties alleged to have been erroneously or illegally exacted, until the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury shall have been first had on such appeal, unless the decision of the Secretary shall be delayed more than ninety days from the date of such appeal in case of an entry at any port east of the Rocky Mountains, or more than five months in case of an entry west of those mountains."

From these sections it appears that it is the "owner, importer, consignee, or agent of the merchandise, in the case of duties levied on merchandise," who must protest and appeal, and he is the person who, having made payment under protest "in order to obtain possession of merchandise imported for him," may maintain the action. It does not follow that devisees, representatives of the estate of deceased persons, assignees in bankruptcy or by operation of law, are excluded from bringing suit, for they take by devolution, and are regarded as succeeding in interest to the original party. But the statute does not contemplate that a stranger may bring the action, and such is a voluntary assignee of the mere naked right.

In Castro v. Seeberger, 40 Fed. Rep. 531, Castro had purchased the merchandise of the importer while it was in bond, and pending an appeal, and after the decision of the appeal paid the duties assessed in order to obtain possession of the property, and thereupon brought the suit; and it was decided by Judge Blodgett, holding the Circuit Court for the Northern District of Illinois, that the claim against the collector became attached to and followed the merchandise so as to make the purchaser, who paid the charges, constructively the importer

Opinion of the Court.

The

and entitled to maintain the action under the statute. purchaser obtained an interest in the thing itself. The case here is wholly different; for these importers, after the decision of the Secretary, paid the duties and took the goods themselves, and then attempted to assign a bare right of action to this plaintiff.

By section 3477, all transfers and assignments made of any claim upon the United States, or of any part or share thereof, or interest therein, whether absolute or conditional, and whatever might be the consideration therefor, and all powers of attorney, orders, or other authorities for receiving payment of any such claim, or of any part or share thereof, were declared to be absolutely null and void, unless they were freely made and executed in the presence of at least two attesting witnesses, after the allowance of such a claim, the ascertainment of the amount due, and the issuing of a warrant for the payment thereof. The language is general which declares the nullity of such assignments, and the only cases where they are recognized is where a warrant has already issued. If there are any cases where the claim cannot be paid by warrant, then they do not come within the exception, but are affected by the general language. 16 Op. Atty. Gen. 261.

The mischiefs designed to be remedied by this section were declared by Mr. Justice Miller in Goodman v. Niblack, 102 U. S. 556, to be mainly two; first, the danger that the rights of the government might be embarrassed by having to deal with several persons instead of one, and by the introduction of a party who was a stranger to the original transaction; second, that by a transfer of such claim against the government to one or more persons not originally interested in it, the way might be conveniently opened to such improper influences in prosecuting the claim before the Departments, the courts, or the Congress, as desperate cases, where the award is contingent on success, so often suggest.

It has been frequently held that the section does not include transfers by operation of law, or by will, in bankruptcy, or insolvency. Butler v. Goreley, 146 U. S. 303, and cases cited. But the legislation shows that the intent of Congress was

Syllabus.

that the assignment of naked claims against the government for the purpose of suit, or in view of litigation or otherwise, should not be countenanced. At common law, the transfer of a mere right to recover in an action at law was forbidden as violating the rule against maintenance and champerty, and although the rigor of that rule has been relaxed, an assignment of a chose in action will not be sanctioned when it is opposed to any rule of law or public policy.

These considerations are apposite in arriving at the true construction of sections 2931 and 3011, and we are clear that the action provided for cannot be maintained by a stranger suing solely in virtue of a purchase of claims from those who did not see fit to prosecute them themselves.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded with a direction to dismiss the complaint.

SHAEFFER v. BLAIR.

Judgment reversed.

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI.

No. 178. Argued March 27, 1893.- Decided May 1, 1893.

By a contract in writing, A and B agreed that certain lands, for the sale and conveyance of most of which A held agreements of third persons, should be purchased for the mutual interest of A and B, and the legal title taken in A's name, and conveyed by him to B; that B should advance to A the sums required to pay the purchase money, as well as other expenses to be mutually agreed upon from time to time, and be repaid his advances, with interest, out of the net proceeds of sales; that A should attend to preparing the lands for sale, and sell them, subject to B's approval, at prices mutually agreed upon, and retain a commission of five per cent on the gross amount of sales, and, until B was reimbursed for his advances, deposit the rest of the proceeds to B's credit in a bank to be mutually agreed upon; that, when B had been so reimbursed, "then the remainder of the property shall belong sixty per cent to B and forty per cent to A;" and that the property should be prepared for sale" by A or assigns" within a certain time, unless extended by mutual agreement. A fraudulently obtained from B much larger sums of money

Statement of the Case.

than were needed to pay for the lands, procured conveyances of the lands to himself, and refused to convey them to B. Held, that, whether the contract did or did not create a partnership, (and it seems that it did not,) the equitable title in the lands, after reimbursing B for his advances with interest, belonged three fifths to B and two fifths to A; and that A's fraudulent misconduct, while it deprived him of the right to the stipulated commissions, did not divest him of his title in the lands.

THIS was a bill in equity, filed December 8, 1885, by John I. Blair, a citizen of Missouri, against Samuel C. Shaeffer, a citizen of Ohio, and other persons, citizens of other States, claiming under him, setting forth a contract in writing between the plaintiff and Shaeffer, dated February 4, 1884, (which is copied in the margin,1) and praying that Shaeffer might be

1 Whereas, by virtue of a certain contract made by Samuel C. Shaeffer, of Lancaster, Ohio, with P. Cardenas, of New York city, for the purchase of thirty-six and acres of land in Jackson County, Missouri, and known as lot 7 of the partition of the estate of Thomas West, deceased, by the circuit court of Jackson County, Missouri, on October 18, 1880, as per contract dated November 1, 1883, for which said land the said Shaeffer was to pay the said Cardenas the sum of $21,882 on or before February 8, 1884. Now it is agreed, as said contract is made by said Shaeffer for said land, and for prudential purposes, that the same shall be conveyed by warranty deed to said Shaeffer; and that John I. Blair, of Blairstown, New Jersey, has paid for the same by giving to said Shaeffer a check on the National Park Bank of New York city for the sum of $21,882, signed by the president of the Belvidere National Bank of New Jersey, to enable him to pay for the said land.

And whereas, by another agreement made by said Shaeffer with Marion West, of Jackson County, Missouri, dated July 24, 1882, and October 21, 1882, whereby said Marion West sold the interests of Frank West, Thomas West and Joseph C. West, minor heirs of Thomas West, deceased, and known as lots 5, 6 and 8, of the partition of the estate of said Thomas West, deceased, by the circuit court of Jackson County, Missouri, on October 18, 1880; for which said land, by said contract, said Shaeffer was to pay the sum of $44,559; $10,000 to be paid cash upon the delivery of deed; and the remainder, $34,559, to wit, $17,279.50 on or before February 8, 1885, and $17,279.50 on or before February 1, 1886, bearing eight per cent interest from February 1, 1883, and secured by mortgage on said premises. The said John I. Blair has given to said Shaeffer a check, signed by the president of the Belvidere National Bank of New Jersey, on the National Park Bank of New York city, for $10,000, to enable said Shaeffer to pay that much on account of said lands, and for prudential reasons to obtain a deed for the same in his own name. The said Blair is to pay the

Statement of the Case.

ordered to convey to the plaintiff the lands described in that contract, and that it be adjudged that the defendants had no title or interest therein, and for further relief.

balance of the purchase money at maturity, amounting to $34,559, given by said Shaeffer and secured by mortgage.

This makes at this time the cash payments on the above two contracts $21,882 and $10,000, making $31,882, which is to bear eight per cent interest until paid out of the sales of the land aforesaid, the interest to be added to the principal yearly, and bear eight per cent interest until paid.

Within four months after said Shaeffer shall have obtained the title to said lands, or sooner, if desired by said Blair, said Shaeffer to make a warranty deed to said Blair for said lands.

Now it is further agreed that, for the mutual interest of said Blair and Shaeffer, it may be deemed advisable to obtain certain releases for pretended claims made by the Anthony heirs to said property, the sum for said purpose to be mutually agreed upon, which sum said Blair agrees to furnish to said Shaeffer, upon telegraphic notice, to aid him in securing said releases; and said Shaeffer afterwards to deed by release deed said lands to said Blair. Said money to bear same rate of interest and governed by same conditions as herein before stipulated, the same to be endorsed on this contract, or other written evidences given that said Blair paid the money.

It is deemed for the mutual interest of said Blair and Shaeffer, that said Shaeffer purchase the sixty-nine acres of land from John S. West, adjoining the above-described lands, at a price not to exceed $400 per acre, amounting to $27,600, and to obtain a warranty deed therefor. Said John I. Blair has given said Shaeffer the president's check of the Belvidere National Bank of New Jersey, on the National Park Bank of New York city for $14,600, as part payment for said sixty-nine acres of land. If said property cannot be purchased for said $27,600, then said $14,600 check to be returned to said Blair unused. Said Blair agrees to assume and pay $13,000 mortgage on said property, which said Shaeffer will give to said West, payable in one or two years, and bearing eight per cent interest, in case said purchase can be made; said Shaeffer, within four months after obtaining title to said land, to deed same to said Blair. All the money paid and furnished and assumed, to pay for said land, by said Blair, to bear eight per cent interest, and be added to the principal each year until paid.

All moneys necessary to stake off lots, grade streets, advertising, office furniture, fixtures, rents, stationery, taxes, and such other expenses as may become necessary for the improvements and sale of said property, as may be mutually agreed upon from time to time by said Blair and Shaeffer, shall be furnished by said Blair.

Said Shaeffer is to deduct and receive five per cent commission upon gross sales of all lots sold at the agreed price or over, made by said Blair and Shaeffer; and the remainder to be deposited in some bank in Kansas City. that may be mutually agreed upon, to the credit of said John I. Blair, until