more than three years before the proceedings began and was therefore beyond the statute of limitations. Decision The Court reversed the decision of the lower court based on its holding that criminal contempt was a crime to which the statute of limitations applies. Significance The Court settled whether contempt was actually a crime by the affirmative. It also resolved the issue of a statute of limitations for punishing contempt, settling on a term of three years. See also Gompers v. Buck's Stove & Range Co. References External links Great Court Cases United States Supreme Court cases United States Supreme Court cases of the White Court American Federation of Labor 1914 in United States case law