Case ID: f-cas_25/html/0420-01.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. 14,793.
    UNITED STATES v. CHOTEAU et al.
    [32 Hunt. Mer. Mag. 715.]
    District Court, S. D. New York.
    1855.
    Customs Doties—Excess is Weight—Absorption op Moisture.
    This was a suit to recover duty upon the alleged weight of a quantity of wool imported by the defendants • [Pierre Cboteau and others]. The custom house weighers made returns showing an excess over the weights specified in the invoice, which would amount to about $300.
    Mr. Joaehimsen, Asst. U. S. Atty.,
    produced witnesses to prove that the weight of the wool on its arrival here exceeded that specified in the invoice.
    Messrs. Porter & Sanford, for defendants,
    produced evidence to show that wool, by absorbing moisture while at sea, becomes heavier from one to five per cent.; that the wool in question was weighed in England, and the weighers gave the weight mentioned in the invoice; that the wool was kept here in a dry place after its arrival, and so decreased in weight that it was sold at a less weight than that mentioned in the invoice.
   THE COURT

(BETTS, District Judge)

charged the jury that although the increased weight may have accrued from moisture, or any other action of the elements,—except being exposed to or injured by sea water,— tlie wool was liable to pay duty at this port on the weight here.

The jury brought in a sealed verdict for plaintiff.

Mr. Joaehimsen moved for a reference to ascertain the amount of duty to which the wool was liable, and named Mr. Bridgham as the reference.