In re Brittingham

Choate, D. J.

The petitioner claims to have given original information to a chief officer of the customs which led to the indictment of certain persons for offences against the laws of the United States relating to the customs revenue. The parties indicted having been arrested and held to bail, their bail-bonds were afterwards forfeited, and the sureties paid to the United States about $16,000 in satisfaction thereof. The petitioner now applies for an order of reference to a commissioner that he may make proof of the facts, with a view to having the case certified by the court to the secretary…