Seagrist v. Crabtree was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether a state court had the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel a county auditor to issue a tax deed. The case was brought by Seagrist, who had purchased a piece of property from the county auditor, and Crabtree, who had purchased the same property from the county treasurer. Seagrist argued that the county auditor had the authority to issue a tax deed, and that the state court had the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the county auditor to do so. The Supreme Court held that the state court did not have the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the county auditor to issue a tax deed. The Court reasoned that the county auditor was not a public officer, and thus was not subject to the writ of mandamus. The Court also held that the county auditor was not required to issue a tax deed, and that the county treasurer had the authority to issue a tax deed. The Court concluded that the state court did not have the authority to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the county auditor to issue a tax deed.

In Seagrist v. Crabtree, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a state court had jurisdiction to hear an action for damages against a railroad company that resulted from its negligence in failing to provide safe passage across its tracks. The majority opinion held that the state court did not have jurisdiction because it lacked authority over interstate commerce and thus could not regulate railroads operating within multiple states. Justice Field dissented, arguing that although Congress has exclusive power over interstate commerce, this does not mean that states are powerless when it comes to regulating such activities within their borders. He argued further that if Congress fails to exercise its powers of regulation or fails in any way to protect citizens from harm caused by negligent acts of corporations engaged in interstate commerce, then states should be allowed some degree of control so as to ensure public safety and welfare is maintained.