Walker v. Hawxhurst

NELSON, Circuit Justice. A new trial is urged principally on the ground of an objection to the charge of the court. The counsel for the plaintiff requested the court to charge, that if the jury believed that the defendant intended the public to understand, by the words and figures he caused to be put on the article, that he had got a patent for it, he was liable for the penalty. The court refused so to charge, but charged, that if the defendant used the marks, knowing he had no right to, and with the intention of deceiving the public, then he was liable, but, if he used them, supposing he had a right to, and with no intention to deceive the public, then he was not liable. I am of opinion that the court did not err in refusing to charge as requested by the counsel. The request leaves out altogether the element of fraud and deceit, which is clearly, and even in terms, made essential to bring a party within the penalties of the statute. According to the interpretation of the counsel, the simple act of marking the article, indicating that it was patented when it was not, would he sufficient, because, of necessity, the party must mean and intend that the public should understand what he has thus explicitly expressed. But this is not the statute. The marking must not only give the public to understand the fact of a patent, but the act must be done malo ani-mo, with an intent to deceive; and this ingredient of the offence, which is essential to make it complete, must be left to, and be found by, the jury. The court, therefore, was right in submitting it to them. The remaining questions in the case arise out of the admission and rejection of evidence. The question of fraud or deceit, as a matter of fact presented in a case, involves an inquiry [32] of much latitude and scope on the trial, and must generally be directed by the good sense of the judge, in respect to the bearing of the facts and circumstances relied on, and concerning which it is oftentimes difficult to apply any fixed rules. Very considerable indulgence is, therefore, allowed by the appellate court, in revising these questions. The error must not only be striking, but must necessarily have been calculated to mislead the minds of the jury, before the verdict will be interfered with. I have looked carefully into these questions of evidence, and am of opinion that no one of them, within the above observations, would justify me in granting this motion. The motion for a new trial is denied.