United States v. Lapène

Citations

• 84 U.S. 601
• 21 L. Ed. 693
• 17 Wall. 601
• 1873 U.S. LEXIS 1404

Syllabus

<p>In February, 1862, while the whole State of Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans, was under the civil and military control of the rebels of the late rebellion, a mercantile firm in New Orleans sent their agent into certain interior parishes of the State to collect, money due to the firm and to,make purchases of cotton. After the agent had got into the interior parishes, but before he had bought any cotton, the city of New Orleans, where his principals were, was captured (April 27th, 1862), by the forces of the United States, and remained from that time under the control of the government, the interior parishes, however, still remaining in the control of the rebels. Subsequently to this the agent made purchases of cotton from persons in these interior parishes, still, as just said, under the control of the rebels. Held that the firm was guilty of trading with the enemy, and that the property was rightly taken by the Federal government.</p>