Overview
Case summary
The Winchester and Potomac Railroad Company sought recovery for railroad material sold by the War Department after the Civil War, despite an agreement to return such property to the owners. The Court of Claims ruled in favor of the railroad, finding a valid contract and rejecting defenses regarding the statute of limitations and lack of appropriation. The Supreme Court reversed this decision, holding that the claim constituted a 'War claim' under the Act of March 3, 1887, and therefore the Court of Claims had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
Abstract
A railroad company sought recovery for materials sold by the War Department despite an agreement to return the property, and the Court of Claims ruled in its favor based on a valid contract while rejecting defenses of statute of limitations and lack of appropriation. The Supreme Court reversed, holding the claim was a war claim under the relevant act, depriving the Court of Claims of jurisdiction. The decision of the Court of Claims was reversed for lack of jurisdiction.
Opinion of the court
opinionMr. Justice Harlan
- The claim is a 'War claim' under the Act of March 3, 1887.
- The Court of Claims is statutorily barred from hearing such claims.
Dissenting opinions
1Procedural posture
Legal categories
Case record
Issues & holdings
de novo
The court held that the claim fell under the category of 'War claims' excluded from the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims by the Act of March 3, 1887.
Holdings of the court
Timeline
No timeline recorded.
Facts & evidence
Incident
Key facts
6 facts- At the close of the Civil War, the War Department offered to return Southern railroads to their owners on certain conditions.
- The offer included the return of all rolling stock and material.
- The claimant complied with the conditions and the road was turned over.
- Some material belonging to the road was not turned over but was sold by the government.
- The claimant's president made a personal application to the Secretary of War for the return of the material before it was sold.
- A formal claim for the proceeds of the sale was subsequently filed.
Objects of relevance
Authorities
Cited authorities (3)
Statutes
- Act of March 3, 1887
- Revised Statutes § 1063
- Revised Statutes § 1069
Legal principles applied
- Strict construction of jurisdictional statutes