Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-07
LOCAL NEWS.
An Old Document.

New Haven Ship Owners Troubles in
 1sOO-The Brig James Peculiar Misfor- tunes-Her Capture and Recapture in the War Between France and Great Britafn-The Appeal to the Admiralty Court mt Martinique-Paying Round Sum.
 venerable document has been shown us whose yellow, time-stained pages record a matter of historical interest in which New Haven ship owners were deeply concerned It is dated Jan. ?, 1900, at Martinique, 'tin the Court of Vice Admiralty" and is the case of ''Our Sovereign Lord the King against the Brig James, her Tackle, Apparel and Furni- ture, and the Horses, Goods, Wares and Mer- chandise laden on board her" It is a me- mento of the war in 1900 between Great Brit ain and France A New Haven vessel sailing the high seas was taken captive by French vessel, and had been prize but short time when British war vessel swooped down on the unfortunate vessel and took her away from the French Now comes the application through the Admiralty Court of the lawful owners for restoration of their property the vessel being neither French nor British but American. Thomas Beech, jr., Esq, Gas lawful proctor for our Sovereign Lord the King" pleads that the prize is lawful prize He recites that the two ma tions are at war, that ''the said brig whereof Daniel Truman was master on or about the 25th day of December last was by her Majesty's ship Surinam taken and seized prize," and alleges that the brig and it's lading were the property of the enemies of the crown of Great Britain. He then sub- mits the case to Charles Cottrell, Esq. Judge Surrogate of the Court of Vice Admiralty" to decide according to the right and justice of the case. The New Haven claim read as follows:
 MARTINIQUE
 In the Court of Vice Admiralty.
 The brig James, whereof Daniel Truman was late
 master, and her lading taken by French priva-
 teer and retaken by His Majestys ship of war,
 The claim of Enathan Atwater for and in behalf of Ebenezer Peck, John Miles, Stephen Allan Timothy Atw ater and Daniel Truman, natives of New Haven in America the true and lawful owners, and of the French pri1ateer and retaRe by His Gaestys snip IS of war surinam and brought into the port of Fort Matthew Ca mistake of the copyist for Enathan) Atwater that the said brig and cargo may be stored to him for and in behalf of the said owners and underwriters upon paying such salvage as the court may allow.
 JOHN BURROUGHS, Claimants Proctor.
 Then follows the affirmation of Elnathan Atwater before Elnathan Attwater that the above was @ true statement.
 Then follows the proclamation for calling the court in the ''island of Martinico, in the town of St. Pierre, Tuesday, the 17th of Jan, 1800" The proceedings are recounted in legal phrase. The court decided that the claimants statement was true and that the vessel be restored to the owners on payment of the usual salvage to the recaptors, viz one-third the value of the vessel and cargo the claimants also to pay costs. Appraisers were appointed, viz, James Jones, Thomas c. Blackburn Cholmondeley Willoughby, Richard Horton and Joseph Cottrell, all of Fort Royal They acted and reported the value of the brig, tackle, cargo, etc, to be e3, ,513 sterling.
 The document does not leave any doubt as to what the claimants did in the case, as ap- pears from the conclusion, viz. Received of Captain Truman eleven hundred and seventyone pounds three sIillings and Az currency being E salvage in the brig James and her cargo captured by His Majestys ship Surinam Fort Royal Martinico, January 16th, 1900.
 GEO. DEsBRoUGH, Agent