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United States v. Peter

178 F. Supp. 854 (1959)

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United States v. Peter

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
178 F. Supp. 854 (1959)

CS

Facts

Emily Baron was an elderly recluse who had been born into a wealthy family. Emily lived alone and had locks on her home and also on her bedroom door. After Emily’s death, Emily’s heirs (defendants) found $28,000 in cash and bonds hidden in her bedroom. No one looked in Emily’s mattress, however, and the mattress was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Cleland (defendants). The Clelands arranged for the mattress to be taken to a mattress-refurbishment business. During the refurbishment process, $22,000 in gold certificates were found hidden in the mattress. Both Emily’s heirs and the Clelands claimed ownership of the gold certificates. Because it was illegal for individuals to privately hold gold certificates by that time, the United States government (plaintiff) brought an interpleader action claiming the gold certificates but agreeing to pay their face value to the rightful owner. The Clelands claimed that the gold certificates were treasure and, because the certificates had been found in property that belonged to them, the treasure belonged to them as well. Emily’s heirs claimed that the gold certificates were in fact lost property belonging to Emily and in turn to them as her heirs.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Wright, J.)

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