This is a list of cases reported in volume 239 of United States Reports , decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1915 and 1916.
Justices of the Supreme Court at the time of volume 239 U.S.
The Supreme Court is established by Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States , which says: "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court . . .". The size of the Court is not specified; the Constitution leaves it to Congress to set the number of justices. Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 Congress originally fixed the number of justices at six (one chief justice and five associate justices).[ 1] Since 1789 Congress has varied the size of the Court from six to seven , nine , ten , and back to nine justices (always including one chief justice).
When the cases in volume 239 were decided the Court comprised the following nine members:
Portrait
Justice
Office
Home State
Succeeded
Date confirmed by the Senate (Vote)
Tenure on Supreme Court
Edward Douglass White
Chief Justice
Louisiana
Melville Fuller
December 12, 1910 (Acclamation)
December 19, 1910 – May 19, 1921(Died)
Joseph McKenna
Associate Justice
California
Stephen Johnson Field
January 21, 1898 (Acclamation)
January 26, 1898 – January 5, 1925(Retired)
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Associate Justice
Massachusetts
Horace Gray
December 4, 1902 (Acclamation)
December 8, 1902 – January 12, 1932(Retired)
William R. Day
Associate Justice
Ohio
George Shiras Jr.
February 23, 1903 (Acclamation)
March 2, 1903 – November 13, 1922(Retired)
Charles Evans Hughes
Associate Justice
New York
David Josiah Brewer
May 2, 1910 (Acclamation)
October 10, 1910 – June 10, 1916(Resigned)
Willis Van Devanter
Associate Justice
Wyoming
Edward Douglass White (as Associate Justice)
December 15, 1910 (Acclamation)
January 3, 1911 – June 2, 1937(Retired)
Joseph Rucker Lamar
Associate Justice
Georgia
William Henry Moody
December 15, 1910 (Acclamation)
January 3, 1911 – January 2, 1916(Died)
Mahlon Pitney
Associate Justice
New Jersey
John Marshall Harlan
March 13, 1912 (50–26)
March 18, 1912 – December 31, 1922(Resigned)
James Clark McReynolds
Associate Justice
Tennessee
Horace Harmon Lurton
August 29, 1914 (44–6)
October 12, 1914 – January 31, 1941(Retired)
Notable Case in 239 U.S.
Hadacheck v. Sebastian
Hadacheck v. Sebastian , 239 U.S. 394 (1915) , was an early Supreme Court case on the constitutionality of zoning ordinances . The Court held that an ordinance of Los Angeles, California , prohibiting the manufacturing of bricks within specified limits of the city, did not unconstitutionally deprive the petitioner of his property without due process of law, or deny him equal protection of the laws.
Citation style
Under the Judiciary Act of 1789 the federal court structure at the time comprised District Courts, which had general trial jurisdiction; Circuit Courts, which had mixed trial and appellate (from the US District Courts) jurisdiction; and the United States Supreme Court, which had appellate jurisdiction over the federal District and Circuit courts—and for certain issues over state courts. The Supreme Court also had limited original jurisdiction (i.e., in which cases could be filed directly with the Supreme Court without first having been heard by a lower federal or state court). There were one or more federal District Courts and/or Circuit Courts in each state, territory, or other geographical region.
The Judiciary Act of 1891 created the United States Courts of Appeals and reassigned the jurisdiction of most routine appeals from the district and circuit courts to these appellate courts. The Act created nine new courts that were originally known as the "United States Circuit Courts of Appeals." The new courts had jurisdiction over most appeals of lower court decisions. The Supreme Court could review either legal issues that a court of appeals certified or decisions of court of appeals by writ of certiorari . On January 1, 1912, the effective date of the Judicial Code of 1911 , the old Circuit Courts were abolished, with their remaining trial court jurisdiction transferred to the U.S. District Courts.
Bluebook citation style is used for case names, citations, and jurisdictions.
"# Cir." = United States Court of Appeals
"D." = United States District Court for the District of . . .
"E." = Eastern; "M." = Middle; "N." = Northern; "S." = Southern; "W." = Western
"Ct. Cl." = United States Court of Claims
The abbreviation of a state's name alone indicates the highest appellate court in that state's judiciary at the time.
List of cases in volume 239 U.S.
Case Name
Page and year
Opinion of the Court
Concurring opinion(s)
Dissenting opinion(s)
Lower Court
Disposition
Cerecedo v. United States
1 (1915)
White
none
none
D.P.R.
dismissed
Gegiow v. Uhl
3 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
2d Cir.
reversed
Central Trust Company of Illinois v. Lueders
11 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
6th Cir.
dismissed
Stewart v. City of Kansas City
14 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Kan.
dismissed
United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company v. Riefler
17 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
7th Cir.
certification
Steinfeld v. Zeckendorf
26 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
Ariz.
affirmed
Manila Investment Company v. Trammell
31 (1915)
Day
none
none
S.D. Fla.
affirmed
Truax v. Raich
33 (1915)
Hughes
none
McReynolds
D. Ariz.
affirmed
Rio Grande Western Railroad Company v. Stringham
44 (1915)
VanDevanter
none
none
Utah
multiple
Briggs v. United Shoe Machinery Company
48 (1915)
VanDevanter
none
none
S.D.N.Y.
affirmed
Pennsylvania Company v. Donat
50 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
7th Cir.
affirmed
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company v. Devine
52 (1915)
White
none
none
Ill.
affirmed
Stratton v. Stratton
55 (1915)
White
none
none
Ohio Dist. Ct. App.
dismissed
City of New York v. Sage
57 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
2d Cir.
reversed
La Roque v. United States
62 (1915)
VanDevanter
none
none
8th Cir.
affirmed
Anderson v. The Forty-Two Broadway Company
69 (1915)
Pitney
none
none
2d Cir.
reversed
United States v. Barnow
74 (1915)
Pitney
none
none
E.D. Pa.
reversed
National Bank of Athens v. Shackelford
81 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
5th Cir.
affirmed
Parker v. Monroig
83 (1915)
White
none
none
D.P.R.
affirmed
United States v. New York and Porto Rico Steamship Company
88 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
2d Cir.
reversed
Gsell v. Insular Collector of Customs
93 (1915)
Day
none
none
Phil.
dismissed
Southern Railroad Company v. Campbell
99 (1915)
Hughes
none
none
S.C.
affirmed
Provident Savings Life Assurance Society v. Kentucky
103 (1915)
Hughes
none
none
Ky.
reversed
United States v. Freeman
117 (1915)
VanDevanter
none
none
D. Kan.
reversed
Glenwood Light and Water Company v. Mutual Light, Heat and Power Company
121 (1915)
Pitney
none
none
D. Colo.
reversed
Morris Canal and Banking Company v. Baird
126 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
N.J.
affirmed
Mellon Company v. McCafferty
134 (1915)
White
none
none
Okla.
dismissed
Sui v. McCoy
139 (1915)
White
none
none
Phil.
affirmed
Norton v. Whiteside
144 (1915)
White
none
none
8th Cir.
dismissed
Fireball Gas Tank and Illuminating Company v. Commercial Acetylene Company
156 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
8th Cir.
affirmed
Porter v. Wilson
170 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Okla.
affirmed
Heim v. McCall
175 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
N.Y.
affirmed
Crane v. New York
195 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
N.Y. Ct. Sp. Sess.
affirmed
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company v. Burnette
199 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
N.C.
reversed
New Orleans-Belize Royal Mail and Central American Steamship Company, Ltd. v. United States
202 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
Ct. Cl.
affirmed
Phillip Wagner, Inc. v. Leser
207 (1915)
Day
none
none
Md.
affirmed
William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company v. United States
221 (1915)
Day
none
McKenna
Ct. Cl.
affirmed
Johnson v. Wells Fargo and Company
234 (1915)
Day
none
none
8th Cir.
affirmed
O'Neill v. Leamer
244 (1915)
Hughes
none
none
Neb.
affirmed
Houck v. Little River Drainage District
254 (1915)
Hughes
none
none
Mo.
affirmed
Bailey v. Baker Ice Machine Company
268 (1915)
VanDevanter
none
none
8th Cir.
affirmed
Phoenix Railroad Company v. Geary
277 (1915)
Pitney
none
none
D. Ariz.
affirmed
Elzaburu v. Chaves
283 (1915)
Pitney
none
none
P.R.
affirmed
De Villanueva v. Villanueva
293 (1915)
White
none
none
Phil.
affirmed
Mackenzie v. Hare
299 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Cal.
affirmed
Town of Essex v. New England Telegraph Company of Massachusetts
313 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
D. Mass.
affirmed
Provo Bench Canal and Irrigation Company v. Tanner
323 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
Utah
affirmed
Weber v. Freed
325 (1915)
White
none
none
D.N.J.
affirmed
Texas and Pacific Railroad Company v. Bigger
330 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
5th Cir.
affirmed
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company v. Swearingen
339 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
5th Cir.
reversed
United States v. Normile
344 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
Ct. Cl.
reversed
Great Northern Railroad Company v. Otos
349 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
Minn.
affirmed
Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company v. Koennecke
352 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
S.C.
affirmed
Christianson v. King County
356 (1915)
Hughes
none
none
9th Cir.
affirmed
Robert Moody and Son v. Century Savings Bank
374 (1915)
VanDevanter
none
none
8th Cir.
affirmed
Northern Pacific Railroad Company v. Concannon
382 (1915)
White
none
none
Wash.
reversed
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company v. Glenn
388 (1915)
White
none
none
S.C.
affirmed
Hadacheck v. Sebastian
394 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Cal.
affirmed
Williams v. Johnson
414 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Okla.
affirmed
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company v. Whiteaker
421 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Mo.
affirmed
Miller v. Strahl
426 (1915)
McKenna
none
none
Neb.
affirmed
Ex parte Uppercu
435 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
D. Mass.
mandamus granted
Bi-Metallic Investment Company v. State Board of Equalization of Colorado
441 (1915)
Holmes
none
none
Colo.
affirmed
Dayton Coal and Iron Company, Ltd. v. Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway Company
446 (1915)
Day
none
none
Tenn.
affirmed
Chicago and Alton Railroad Company v. Wagner
452 (1916)
Hughes
none
none
Ill.
affirmed
Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company v. Byrne
459 (1916)
McReynolds
none
none
Sup. Ct. Terr. Haw.
affirmed
Reese v. Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company
463 (1915)
McReynolds
none
none
3d Cir.
affirmed
United States v. Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien Gesellschaft
466 (1916)
White
none
none
S.D.N.Y.
reversed
Myles Salt Company, Ltd. v. Iberia and St. Mary Drainage District
478 (1916)
McKenna
none
none
La.
reversed
Northwestern Laundry v. City of Des Moines
486 (1916)
Day
none
none
S.D. Iowa
affirmed
Southern Railroad Company v. Lloyd
496 (1916)
Day
none
none
N.C.
affirmed
Hapai v. Brown
502 (1916)
Holmes
none
none
Sup. Ct. Terr. Haw.
affirmed
Hallowell v. Commons
506 (1916)
Holmes
none
none
8th Cir.
affirmed
Seven Cases of Eckmans Alterative v. United States
510 (1916)
Hughes
none
none
D. Neb.
affirmed
Commercial National Bank of New Orleans v. Canal-Louisiana Bank and Trust Company
520 (1916)
Hughes
none
none
5th Cir.
reversed
United States v. Ross
530 (1916)
Hughes
none
none
Ct. Cl.
reversed
Moss v. Ramey
538 (1916)
VanDevanter
none
none
Idaho
affirmed
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company v. Wright
548 (1916)
VanDevanter
none
none
Neb.
affirmed
Shanks v. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company
556 (1916)
VanDevanter
none
none
N.Y. Sup. Ct.
affirmed
Interstate Amusement Company v. Albert
560 (1916)
Pitney
none
none
Tenn.
affirmed
Home Bond Company v. McChesney
568 (1916)
Pitney
none
none
6th Cir.
affirmed
Kanawha and Michigan Railroad Company v. Kerse
576 (1916)
Pitney
none
none
W. Va. Cir. Ct.
affirmed
New York Central Railroad Company v. Gray
583 (1916)
Pitney
none
none
N.Y. Sup. Ct.
affirmed
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company v. Dettlebach
588 (1916)
Pitney
none
none
Ohio Dist. Ct. App.
reversed
Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company v. Horton
595 (1916)
Pitney
none
none
N.C.
affirmed
Basso v. United States
602 (1916)
McKenna
none
none
Ct. Cl.
affirmed
White v. United States
608 (1916)
Holmes
none
none
Ct. Cl.
affirmed
Northern Pacific Railroad Company v. Meese
614 (1916)
McReynolds
none
none
9th Cir.
reversed
Rogers v. Hennepin County
621 (1916)
McReynolds
none
none
D. Minn.
affirmed
Notes and references
External links
List of cases by Court Seal of the United States Supreme Court Complete list By recent term By subject matter Other lists