Carpenter v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co., 47 F. 535

Carpenter v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co.

47 F. 535 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Northern Iowa | 1891

Shiras, J.

From the record in this cause it appears that the action was brought in the district court of Linn county, Iowa, the plaintiff being a citizen of the state of Iowa, and the defendant a corporation created under the laws of the state of Wisconsin. A petition was filed in due season in this court by the defendant, supported by affidavits, praying lor an order removing the case into this court, on the ground of tbe existence of local prejudice and influence. This court found the showing thus made to be sufficient, and granted an order for the removal of the cause. The transcript having been filed in this court, the plaintiff filed a motion to remand, supported by affidavits, denying tho existence of local prejudice or influence, and now seeks to have the court reconsider its finding and ruling upon that question. There can be no doubt that, under the ruling made by the supremo court, in Re Pennsylvania Co., 137 U. S. 451, 11 Sup. Ct. Rep. 141, this court was justified in granting the order for removal upon the showing submitted to it. The showing then made was sufficient to legally satisfy the court of the truth of the allegations contained in the petition for removal. The order of removal was, therefore, properly made, and the cause was rightfully removed. The filing of the transcript in accordance with the order of removal brought the case here for trial, not for a re-examination of the grounds opon which the order of removal was based. It is not open, under such circumstances, as a mere matter of right, to the plaintiff to file affidavits denying the existence of local prejudice, and thus to compel the court to re-examine that question. Of course if, upon the face of the record, it appeared that jurisdiction did not exist, a motion to remand would be entirely proper; but, if the purpose is to have tho court retry tho question of fact already determined in granting the order of removal, then, before such issue can be made, leave of court must be first obtained for such purpose. It is possible that in extreme cases, and where it may be true that the court has been imposed upon in some matter connected with the hearing and granting of the order of removal, a reexamination of the question of fact may be allowed; but ordinarily the *536one hearing and determination, although ex parte, will he held final. When a party makes a sufficient showing under the statute, and obtains an order of removal, no good purpose can be subserved by permitting a war of affidavits to be entered upon, touching the existence or non-existence of local prejudice or influence. The motion to remand is overruled.