544
FEDERAL REPOBTER,
vol. 66.
jurisdiction of the court. Indeed, it was confessed attbe argument that the same questions that have been here urged were presented to the trial court in defense of the petitioner, and his claim was overruled. He therefore had a remedy by writ of error from the -supreme court to the court by which he was tried. It is true that in rare and exceptional cases the writ may issue; although the remedy by writ of error exists. It has been held by the supreme court, however, that it is the better way to pursue the ordinary remedies afforded by the law. I do not think this to be an exceptional case in which a writ should issue, notwithstanding his remedy by writ of error is complete. This is peculiarly so because, by a writ of error, the grave and interesting question of the status of the Indian to whom allotment has been made can, through such writ of error, receive solution at the hands of the ultimate tribunal. The petition for a writ will be overruled.
.... CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO. v. THEDFORD et al (Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. December 31, 1894.) . No. 255. TRADE NAMES-INFRINGEMBNT-SALE OF RIGHTS IN FIRM NAME.
M. A. being engaged with others, under the firm name of M. A. Tbedford & Co., in the manufacture and sale of "Simmons' Liver Medicine," sold to his partners all his rights therein, and bound himself not to engage in manufa.cturing the said medicine "under any name or style." Afterwards he formed a partnership under the firm name of M. A. Thedford Medicine Company, which made and sold a compound called "M. A. Thedford's Liver InVigorator," which they placed upon the market in wrappers and packages and with symbols and literature calculated to induce the belief that it was the "Simmons' Liver Medicine." Held, that this was a clear infringement upon the rights of his transferees, and that It was no defense that the latter had discontinued the use of the word "Simmons" and called their medicine "M. A. Thedford & Co.'s Original and Only Genuine Liver Medicine, or Black Draught." 58 Fed. 347, reversed.
Appeal from the Oircuit Oourt of the United States for the Northern District of Georgia. This was a bill in equity by the Ohattanooga Medicine Oompany against M. A. Thedford and W. J. Satterfield to enjoin the use of a trade name. The circuit court denied a preliminary injunction (49 Fed. 949), and afterwards entered a decree for defendants. 58 Fed. 347. Oompl1ainant thereupon took this appeal. John L. Hopkins and William Henry Browne, for appellant N. J. Hammond, for appellees. Before PARDEE and McOORMICK, Circuit Judges, and BRUCE, District Judge. BRUOE, District Judge. The case made by the bill, amendments, answer of respondents, and evidence in the cause is substantially that the complainant, the Chattanooga Medicine Company, a
CHATTANOOGA MEDICINE CO. V. THEDFORD.
545
poration organized under the laws of the state of Tennessee, brings its bill against Miles A. Thedford and W. J. Satterfield, citizens of the state of Georgia, and says: That, prior to the year 1856, one Dr. A. Q. Simmons discovered a medicine which he made, and which become widely known as a liver medicine, and cure for diseases of the liver. That, in the year 1856, Dr. Simmons granted to his son-in-law, John H. Thedford, the right to make his medicine, and to use his (Simmons') name in advertising and selling it. That, in the year 1872, John H. Thedford sold and transferred to Miles A. Thedford all his right and title to make and sell the medicine. In the latter part of the year 1872, Miles A. Thedford engaged in manufacturing and selling the medicine in Chattanooga, Tenn., under the firm name of M. A. Thedford & Co., which name became known as the name of the manufacturers of Simmons' Liver Medicine, and thill firm was engaged in manufacturing, advertising, and selling it to the public. On the 14th day of October, 1875, M. A. Thedford sold and transferred to William G. Smith and Charles McKnight a two-thirds interest in his right to manufacture and sell the medicine for $2,200. This contract is in writing, and states that the right transferred is the "right, title, and interest to compound, mix, make, manufacture, advertise, and sell what is known as 'Simmons' Liver Medicine,' the said right descending to me through my father, J. H. Thedford, who is the son-in-law, and received the right from his father-in-law, A. Q. Simmons, now deceased, and was the original inventor of said medicine." Miles A. Thedford, William G. Smith, and Charles McKnight carried on the business of manufacturing and selling the medicine in Chattanooga, Tenn., under the firm name. of M. A. Thedford & Co. Their chief office was in Chattanooga, and on the 22d day of November, 1876, they were engaged in this business, and had a stock of goods amounting to $5,329.05; and book accounts, $8,056.97; and plates, electrotypes, and lithographing stones and printed matter used in advertising the medicine, bearing the signature of M. A. Thedford & Co. On the 22d day of November, 1876, M. A. Thedford sold his onethird interest in the business and right to manufacture and sell the Simmons' Medicine to Z. E. Patton, and was paid for it in a tract of land of 500 acres, more or less, in Caroosa county, Ga. This transfer is in writing, and states that: "I hereby transfer and convey to said Z. E. Patton all and every of my rights, title, and interest whatsoever. that I have been and am or may hereafter become possessed of, in the right to manufacture, make, advertise, and sell the said Simmons' Liver Medicine; and I hereby bind myself not to engage in the business of manufacturing or selling the said medicine uuder any name or style, or to become interested in the manufacture through any other person whatsoever, except that I should become the owner of any part or interest sold to Smith, McKnight, or Patton in the manufacture or sale of said medicine, under the firm name and style of M. A. Thedford & Co. ,. ,. ,."
In 1879 the complainant company succeeded to the right of Smith, McKnight,and Patton, and has ever since been engaged in manufacturing, advertising, and selling the medicine. The defendants in their answer say that they have formed a partnership under the firm name of M. A. Thedford Medicine Company, and that they have v.66F.no.4-35
646
FEDERAL REI'ORTER,'
vol. 6G.
commenced to make, advertise, and sell "T. L. I.," which is "M. A. Thedford's Liver Invigorator," and they say the name M. A. Thedford is wprth to them not less than the sum of $10,000. The evidence shows that "T. L. I.," "M. A. Thedford's Liver Invigorator," is put upon the market in wrappers and packages, with symbols and literature which are calculated to induce the belief on the part of the public that it is the Simmons' Liver Medicine manufactured by the M. A. Thedford Medicine Company, and the literature makes prominent that M.A. Thedford is the grandson of Dr. A. Q. Simmons. Upon the face of it, it would seem to be a clear attempt upon the part of defendants to use and avail themselves of the same thing that M. A. Thedford sold first, two-thirds of it to Smith and McKnight, and afterwards the other third to Z. E. Patton, November 22, 1876. These sales, in terms, indicate a clear purpose on the part of Thedford to go out of the business, and to give his successors in interest a clear field, not only to the right to manufucture, advertise, and sell Simmons' Liver MediCiine, but to the exclusive use of the name "Thedford & Co." in the carrying on of their business. In the very nature of things, such a business as the defendants propose, with the means of advertising they are using, must operate an infringement upon the right of the plaintiff. There is this suggestion: That the language used in the transfer to Patton is limited to the making and selling of Simmons' Liver Medicine, calling it by that name, and that the use which the complainant company is authorized to make of the name of "M. A. Thedford & Co." is likewise to 12e limited to the making, advertising, and selling of Simmons' Liver Medicine, and that afterwards the predecessors of the complainant company discontinued the use of the word "Simmons," and called their medicine "M. A. Thedford & Co.'s Original and Only Genuine Liver Medicine, or·Black Draught," and that this change in the name and literature of the compIa.inant company gave the defendant the right to do what he now claims. We think this view of the terms of the transfer is too narrow, and the evidence does not show that the complainant company abandoned the right to make Simmons' Liver Medicine in one form or other, but it shows the contrary. The cause of this change may be found in the Zeiler suit, brought by a rival of the predecessor of the plaintiff company in the circuit court of the United States for the Eastern district of Tennessee, with the merits of which we have nothing to do here; but it is in the record, and perhaps furnishes a reason for the change which was made in the name of the medicine which the plaintiff company was engaged in manufacturing and seIling; but it is not clear here that change could inure to the benefit of the defendants, in the absence of proof showing an abandomnent by the complainant company of the right to make and sell Simmons' Liver Medicine. We do not deem it necessary to enter into any inquiry as to the ingredients of Simmons' Liver Medicine, or what his formula actually was, if he had any, or how the complainant's medicine called "}L A. Thedford & Company's Original and Only Genuine Liver Medicine, or Black Draught," differed. if at all, from Simmons' Liver Medicine, or whether either of the medi-
WALTER A. WOOD MOWING & R. MACH. CO. V. WILLI..\M
& CO.
547
dnes are valuable or However that may be; the manufacture and sale of the medicine seems to have become the basis of a valuable business, and the question here is as to the right to it and the manner in which it shall be placed upon the market; and, as between the parties to this suit, we think the evidence shows that the defendants, in clear violation of the eontract of M. A. Thedford, are infringing upon plaintiff's rights, and are subjecting the plaintiff to an unjust and unfair competition in business. The decree of the circuit court is reversed, and the eause remanded, with instructions to issue an· injunction, and refer the cause to a master to take account of damages; and it is 80 Qrdered. WALTER A. WOOD MOWING & REAPING MACH. CO. v. WILLIAM DEERING & CO. et al. (Circuit Court, D. Illinois. March 5, 1895.) 1. PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS-INFRINGEIIIENT-EXTENT OF Cr,AIM.
Letters patent No. 456,825, July 28, 1891, to George H. Howe, applied. for May 4, 1885, is not infringed by the sheaf carriers shown and described in the Kennedy & Steward patent, No. 405,892, June 25, 1889, and in the Steward patent, No. 482,931, June 24, 1891. In the interferences between the Howe applicadon and those of Kennedy & Steward, Ellis and others the patent office arrayed or classified the carrier attachments as of two separate and distinct types or species,that of Howe being designated as "single-jointed" in design, and that of Kennedy & Steward and one form of Ellis as "double-jointed." Held, that the Howe patent is limited to single-jointed carriers, and the carriers of the defendant, being double-jointed, are therefore not
2.
SAlIlE-INTEUFERENCE.
8.
SAME-ExTEN'r OF CLAIM.
After Howe had made efforts to broaden tue claims of his patent so that they might cover dOUble-jointed carriers, and after his patent had been secured in the interference proceedings upon the distinction of the single-jointed feature, the assignee of the patent must abide by the conditions under which the grant was obtained, and is not at liberty in court to ask for a construction relinquished in the pate:tt office. 'l'he Ho,ve patent is fo.: an improvement only, and Is not for a fundamental invention, and the value of the improvement is not in question, and the fact that It is not a pioneer determines the rule of Its construction.
4.
SAME-CONSTRUCTION.
Bill by the Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Company against William Deering & Co. and others to restrain infringement. George Harding and Pierce & Fisher, for complainant. Banning & Banning and Edmund Wetmore, for defendants. SEAMAN, District Judge. This bilI charges infringement ot letters patent No. 456,825, issued to complainant as assignee of George H. Howe, July 28, 1891, for an improvement in "sheaf carrier and dumper for harvesters," applied for May 4, 1885. The claims of which infringement is alleged are as follows: "(1) Tbe combination, with a harvester, of a pheaf carrier composed of projecting rods, each having a journal at an angle to the projecting portion of