Worthington v. Scribner
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Tort against Charles Scribner, Andrew C. Armstrong, Edward Seymour, Arthur J. Peabody, and Charles Welford. The declaration alleged that the plaintiff was engaged in importing books into the United States; that the defendants, conspiring to injure him and prevent his so importing books, and without probable cause, maliciously and falsely represented to the treasury department of the United States, and to the solicitor of the United States treasury, that the plaintiff had…
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Tort against Charles Scribner, Andrew C. Armstrong, Edward Seymour, Arthur J. Peabody, and Charles Welford. The declaration alleged that the plaintiff was engaged in importing books into the United States; that the defendants, conspiring to injure him and prevent his so importing books, and without probable cause, maliciously and falsely represented to the treasury department of the United States, and to the solicitor of the United States treasury, that the plaintiff had purchased books with the intention of bringing them into the United States, either altogether in fraud of the United States…
1Opinion of the CourtGray, J.
It is the duty of every citizen to communicate to his government any information which he has of the commission of an offence against its laws. To encourage him in performing this duty without fear of consequences, the law holds such information to be among the secrets of state, and leaves the questior how far and under what circumstances the names of the inform ers and the channel of communication shall be suffered to be known, to the absolute discretion of the government, to be exer*489cised according to its views of what the interests of the public require. Courts of justice therefore will not…
2Cases cited6 opinions
- Marbury v. MadisonSupreme Court of the United States · 1803
- White v. NichollsSupreme Court of the United States · 1845
- Howard v. ThompsonNew York Supreme Court · 1839
- Potter v. RobbinsTennessee Supreme Court · 1926
- United States v. MosesU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania · 1827
1 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by80 opinions
- In Re Quarles and ButlerSupreme Court of the United States · 1895
- Vogel v. GruazSupreme Court of the United States · 1884
- Attorney General v. TuftsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1921
- Commonwealth v. SwensonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1975
- United States v. Li Fat TongCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1945
75 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.