Marshall v. Bazin

| S.D.N.Y. | Jul 1, 1849

BY THE COURT.

The cases cited on the first point do not support the position that admiralty has no jurisdiction of contracts for the transportation of passengers by sea. The case Pritchard v. The Lady Horatia [Case No. 11,438] was a claim set up by the master of a vessel by way of answer, upon the proceeds of wrecked goods brought into port in his vessel. He had agreed to bring to the United States the crew of a wrecked vessel for $20 each, passage money, and he also laded on board his vessel such of the cargo of the wreck as had been saved. This cargo was libelled' and condemned for salvage at the suit of that crew, and the master sought to attach a lien upon such salvage interests to satisfy their indebtedness to him for passage. The court decided that no lien existed' in his behalf, and that the property condemned was not brought in the ship as the property of the seamen, and was not answerable for their personal contracts. That the money in court, was not of the nature of surplus and remnants on which an independent debt could be fastened.

Judge Hopkinson remarks, in the course of his opinion, that the demand is “strictly a personal contract, not made at sea, nor for any cause cognizable in admiralty.” No authority is cited in support of the doctrine, excluding the case from the cognizance of the court for these causes; and the case referred to in 2 Camp. 632, rests upon the opposite principle, for it recognises a contract for the transportation of a passenger, as our giving a lien upon his luggage, and maritime liens arising from services by or to a vessel, are the familiar subjects of admiralty jurisdiction. It is not yet decided, that the method of remedy, in rem or in personam, determines the jurisdiction of the court. But the rule is definitely settled, so far as the courts of this district are concerned, by the decisions of the circuit and district courts, upon the precise point.

It was held in this court, that a passenger had a remedy against the vessel for breach of contract by the master, to bring him and his family from a foreign port to the United States, and could recover back the money advanced on the agreement, and damages for the violation of it. The Zenobia [Case No. 18,208]; The Aberfoyle [Id. 16]. The last case was appealed to the circuit court, and was after a full hearing, affirmed. [Id. 17.] This point was made the essential one on the appeal.

It has also been decided by this court, on full consideration, that the' non-imprisonment acts of the state of New York, as adopted by the acts of congress of February 28,1839, and January 14, 1841 (5 Stat. 321, 410), do not apply to process issued out of courts of admiralty. The processes of these courts are subject to the regulations of the supreme court, by virtue of the acts of congress of Hay 8, 1792, § 2, and August 23, 1842 (5 Stat. 518, § G), and accordingly the rules of the supreme court, adopted pursuant to those acts, are authoritative and conclusive on this subject. Lane v. Buck [Case No. 8.048]; Lockwood v. Pearson [unreported]. Rules 2 and 3 of the supreme court, give parties the right to a ■warrant of arrest, and to the advantage of bail, to satisfy the final decree rendered in the cause, and the respondent in this case, is properly held in custody, if the libellant has a subsisting right of action in this court. The prospective operation of the act of 1841, is in this respect intercepted by that of 1842.

The third and fourth points raised by the respondent, present the only matters of con-testation open before this court in the cause. The jurisdiction of the court over the subject matter may be lost to the party, or be waived by him, by any act of his indicating that this special remedy is relinquished. Taking personal security for the demand, by promissory note or bill of exchange, will be regarded a waiver of the remedy in admiralty and bar proceedings in this court, whilst such security remains outstanding. Murray v. Lazarus [Case No. 9,962]; Ramsay v. Allegre, 12 Wheat. [25 U. S.] 616. But that admiralty has cognizance of the demand in personam, is distinctly implied in that case, and is explicitly decided in that of The General Smith, 4 Wheat. [17 U. S.] 438, Peroux v. Howard, 7 Pet. [32 U. S.] 324, and that it was intended so to settle the doctrine, is made certain by the remarks of Judge Story, speaking for the court, in Andrews v. Wall, 3 How. [44 U. S.] 572, 573.

On the argument of the motion, the advocate for the libellant produced the bill of exchange, and declared his purpose to deliver it up on the hearing of the cause. This is a sufficient compliance with the principle embodied in the cases; to prevent the respondent avoiding the action by this preliminary motion. It is further noticeable, that the affidavit of the respondent does not aver that the bill was drawn by the agent of the ship at Havre or that he accepted it as a satisfaction of the demand. The implication therefore is that it was but a liquidation of the demand, and a memorandum of the time it was payable, and not intended by the parties to be made a security for the debt.

The jurisdiction of the court in personam, in matters of contract, has no connection with the question of lien. The party is proceeded against upon his personal liability by process of arrest or citation. This remedy, if suspended by taking a bill or note, is restored to the creditor, when the debtor is released of the hazard of having negotiable paper in circulation against him, by its being surrendered him or produced in court and cancelled.

The motion to dismiss the libel is accordingly denied, and the respondent must be put to his defence to the action. The costs will abide the final result of the suit. Decree accordingly.