United States ex rel. Randolph v. Ross

Relator brought in a state court of Tennessee an action against the receivers of the Memphis Street Railway Company to recover for alleged negligent personal injuries. He gave in that court no bond for costs, but executed an affidavit in forma pauperis under the Tennessee statute, which affidavit is criticized here only as failing to state the nature of the cause of action. We pass by this criticism in view of the later history of the case.

The suit was removed to the federal District Court below, which has a rule of court to the effect that where suits are instituted in for-ma pauperis, and…