This case comes before us on appeal from the decree of the circuit court for the Eastern district of Michigan. The facts, so far as necessary to present the point of our decision, are as follows:
In 1869, and previous to March of that year, several persons interested in a patent for the manufacture of illuminating gas, and gas-machines known as 'Rand's Patent,' for the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Lowa, agreed to unite their interests, obtain an act of incorporation from the legislature of Illinois, and do business in Chicago. They accordingly applied to the legislature of the state, and, on the twenty-fourth of March following, obtained an act duly incorporating them and their associates and successors under the name of the Illinois Pneumatic Gas Company. By its third section the corporation was invested with power to manufacture and sell illuminating gas, to be made from petroleum or its products under the patents owned or to be owned by the company, or in which it may have any title or interest, issued or to be issued to A. C. Rand; also to manufacture and sell the works and machine y, with all needed materials and appliances for such manufacture, and to make assignments and grant licenses under the patents in the same manner and to the same effect as if the corporation were a natural person.