Case ID: f-cas_11/html/0642-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "THE COURT", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Case No. 6,126.
    HARRIS v. NUGENT.
    [3 Cranch, C. C. 649.] 
    
    Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
    Nov. Term, 1829.
    Maritime Jurisdiction — Fekrtboat — Liability op Master por Wages.
    1. The maritime law does not apply to such boats as the Tyber steamboat, a ferryboat running between Washington and Alexandria.
    [Cited in Murray v. The F. B. Nimick, 2 Fed. 90.]
    2. The master of such a boat is not personally liable for the wages of the hands.
    Appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace for the wages of [William B.] Nu-gent on board the Tyber steamboat, a ferryboat, or packet, running between Washington and Alexandria. Nugent was the plaintiff below. The evidence which he relied upon was the following paper: “Shipped W. A. B. Nugent, May 6, 1S29, on board the Tyber steamboat, at twenty-two dollars per month. For the steamboat Tyber, John Harris.” And parol evidence that Harris was the master of the boat; but had been dismissed before suit brought. The justice had given judgment only for the amount of wages up to the time when the master was dismissed.
    
      
       [Reported by Hon. William Crunch, Chief Judge.]
    
   THE COURT

(nem. con.) reversed the.judgment; being of opinion that it was not a personal engagement by Harris, and that the maritime law did not apply to such boats, so employed.