This is a suit in equity brought in the supreme court of the District of Columbia, In April, 1881, by Henry E. Davis, administrator de bonis non of Philip B. Fouke, deceased, against John J. Key. The object of the bill is to obtain an accounting from Key as to transactions between him and Fouke under an alleged partnership between them, entered into by a written agreement made September 24, 1869.
On the tenth of August, 1869, Key and Fouke, with one Hays and one De Castro, entered into a written agreement of copartnership, as follows:
'Articles of copartnership entered into between John J. Key, of the city of Terre Haute, state of Indiana; Philip B. Fouke, now of the city of New Orleans, state of Louisiana; H. T. Hays and J. O. De Castro, both of the city of New Orleans, state of Louisiana.
'It is agreed between said parties that a copartnership is this day formed between them, for the purpose of prosecuting claims in behalf of the citizens of the United States of America against the government of Mexico, and of citizens of the government of Mexico against the government of the United States of America.
It is agreed between said parties that the said Fouke, Hays, and De Castro shall procure claims of citizens of the respective governments named against the other, and attend to taking the necessary proof, and that the said claims shall be sent to said Key, at Washington city, accompanied with a power of attorney from the claimant authorizing said Key to prosecute said claims, and authorizing him to receive from said governments any and all amounts that may be due and coming to them; that said Key shall retain all fees, as agreed on by said parties, and shall pay over to said parties, acting in the capacity of special attorneys, for that purpose, of the claimant, the amount due to them as such special attorneys, both for the amount awarded the claimant, and for fees due Hays, Fouke, and De Castro in the case, either at Washington, New York, or New Orleans, as he may be directed from time to time by either Hays, Fouke, or De Castro, acting as the special agent of the claimant, whose power as such in all cases sent by them is, to all intents and purposes, recognized by the parties to this contract; that said Key shall return, in all cases when no special direction is given, the portion due to said firm, paying over to the other parties at once, or accounting in such manner as they may from time to time direct, for the proportion of the fees so retained. It is agreed that all fees received under this copartnership shall be divided, one-half part to said Key, and the other half part to said Fouke, Hays, and De Castro. Said Key is to remain at Washington city, said Hays at New Orleans, said De Castro to be in the city of Mexico, and said Fouke is to render his services wherever they shall be needed.
'In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this tenth day of August, 1869.
'JOHN J. KEY. [Seal.]
P. B. FOUKE. [Seal.]
'HARRY T. HAYS. [Seal.]
J. O. DE CASTRO. [Seal.]' On the twenty-fourth of September, 1869, Fouke and Key executed the following agreement:
'Articles of copartnership entered into between philip B. Fouke and John J. Key.
'It is agreed between said parties that a partnership be this day formed between them for the purpose of practicing law in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, and that partnership shall be equal. It is agreed each party shall give their undivided attention to the business, and that said business embraces all matters pertaining to the profession of the law, including prosecution of claims against the government of the United States, either before congress or the court of claims. Neither party shall have the right to use the name of the firm except in such matters as pertain to the business of attorneys. It is understood and agreed that all sums received by said Key or Fouke under an agreement of partnership heretofore formed by said Key, Fouke, H. T. Hays, and J. O. De Castro shall be equally divided by said Fouke and Key. It is agreed that an account of expenses shall by kept between said parties pertaining to their business, (except that part in prosecuting claims under the treaty of July 4, 1868, between the United States and Mexico,) and all sums received by either partner from their business, and all sums retained by either party, shall be entered on a book kept for that purpose, and the same shall be subject to the control of both. It is agreed that this copartnership shall continue until the twenty-fourth day of September, 1871, unless dissolved by mutual consent.
'In witness whereof we have, this twenty-fourth day of September, 1869, set our hands and seals.