Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-11-19
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

I
Eighth Congress.
An ACT to regulate Prize Proceedings and the
Distribution of Prize Money, and for other
Purposes.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of the United States Of America
in Congress assen,bled That it shall be the duty
of the commanding officer of any vessel Or YES
sells making capture to secure the documents
Of the ship and cargo, including the log-book,
with all other documents letters and other pa
pcrs found on board, and make an inventory of
the same, and soal them up, and send thcm with
the inventory, to the court in which proceedings
arc to be l,ad with written statement that they
are oil the papers found, or explaining the ab-
sencc of any documents or papers, or any change
III their condition. lie shall send to said court,
as witnesses the master, one or more OF the other
officers, the supercargo. purscr, or agent OF the
prize, and any person found on board whom he
may suppose to be interested in, or to have knOwl
edge respecting the title, national character, or
destination of the prize lie shall send the prize,
with the documents, papers, and witnesses, under
charge of Il competent prize master and prize
crew, into port for adjudication, explaining the
absence of any usual witnesses; and in the ab-
scncc Of instructions from superior authority Us
to the port to which it shall be SENT he shall Sc
lcct such port as he shall deem most convenient
in view OF the interests OF probable claimants,
as well as of the captors. II the captured vessel,
or any part Of the captured property. is not in
condition to be sent in for adjudication, q survey
shall be had thereon and an appraiscmcnt made
by persons rs competent and impartial as can
be obtained, and their reports shall be sent to
the court in which proceedings are to be had
andt such property, unless appropriated for the
use OF the government, shall be sold by til, au-
thority of the commanding officer present and
the proceeds deposited with the assistant treas
urcr of the United States most accessible to
said court, and subject to its order in the cause.
Sec. O. Anlbc il. further enacted, That if any
vessel of the United States shall claim to share
in the prize. either as having made the cal ture,
or as having been within signal distance Of the
vessel or vessels making the capture the com
manding officer of such vessel shall make out q
written statement Of his claim, with the grounds
on which it is rested, the principal facts tending
to show what vessels made the capture, and
what vessels were within signal distance of those
making the capture, with reasonable particular
ity as to times, distances, localities and signals
made, seen, or answered and such statement Of
claim shall be signed by him and sent to the
court in which proceedings shall be had, and
shall be filed IN the cause.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That it
shall he the duty Of the prize master to make
his way diligently to the selected port. and there
Immediately deliver to prize commissioner the
documents and papers, and the inventory thereof,
and make affidavit that they are the same and
in the same condition as delivered to him, or ex-
planning any absence or change Of condition
therein and that the prize property is in the
same condition "a delivered to him. or explaining
any loss or damage thereto and he shall further
report 10 the district attorney. and give to him
oil the infem itiOn in his possession respecting
the prize and her capture; and he shall deliver
over the persons sent n witnesses to the custody
Of the marshal. AMI shall retain the prize in his
cnsi"ly until il shall he taken thcrcirom BY pro-
cess rr'm the prize court.
Sec. 4. Had h. IL further snarsd. That the
attorney of the United States for the dist rict
shall imm sla,,ly Elc a lib. a.ains, such prize
property. ard shall forthwith obtain 4 warrant
from the c"art dircriiny the marshal to take IL
into his cu>;oly. and shall pr..rrs>l diligently 10
obtain cooimaa;issn aad Distribution ;hr-rof
AMI TO tha, eal shall that ti,- ,~,isr prI,ara-
tory evhi-s-c y taken hy IN. PR c"-ns;ssion-
ers anil fhs, iisc pr r-rus sssaEsrrs aka take
tn d1-s-stnzs- D. benr es@r q. tiss prIxr errs
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