Patterson v. Wyoming Valley District Council

Citations

• 31 Pa. Super. 112
• 1906 Pa. Super. LEXIS 167

Syllabus

<p>Contempt of court — Evidence—Witness—Criminal liability — Constitutional law — Equity—Strikes.</p> <p>Where a contempt of court complained of consists merely in the refusal to do or refrain from doing some act commanded or prohibited for the benefit, primarily at least, of a party litigant, proceedings to ascertain such contempt and enforce obedience to the order or decree, are akin to execution process and civil rather than criminal in their nature.</p> <p>Where a labor organization and its members have been enjoined from committing certain acts in the nature of a “boycott,” and the decree of the court has been disobeyed, officers of the organization may, in contempt proceedings, be compelled to produce the records and minute books of the organization. Such a proceeding is not a “criminal case” or criminal prosecution within the meaning of the federal and state constitutions.</p> <p>Contempt of court — Sentence—Labor organization.</p> <p>The individual members of an unincorporated labor organization, who have been active in its management, may be punished for a contempt of court committed by the organization.</p>