Norris v. Hassler

Under section 725 of the Revised Statutes, power is conferred upon the courts of the United States to punish for contempts of their authority by fine and imprisonment. The proviso of the section includes within the penalty “disobedience or resistance by any -*■ * witness to any lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or command of the said courts.” This authority is exercised by the courts for two purposes: (1) To punish the offender for the disrespect to the court; and (2) to compel his performance of some act or duty required of him bytho court which he refuses to perform. See In re…