Case Name: THE FRANCES LOUISE. UNITED STATES v. 3,500 CASES OF ALCOHOL, etc.
Court: United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1924-10-15
Citations: 1 F.2d 1006
Docket Number: Nos. 2746, 2755
Parties: THE FRANCES LOUISE. UNITED STATES v. 3,500 CASES OF ALCOHOL, etc.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 1
Pages: 1006–1006

Head Matter:
THE FRANCES LOUISE. UNITED STATES v. 3,500 CASES OF ALCOHOL, etc.
(District Court, D. Massachusetts.
October 15, 1924.)
Nos. 2746, 2755.
Intoxicating liquors <§=3255 — Vessels and property seized by United States not released on bond..
Vessels and property seized by the United States for violation of liquor laws will not be released on bond, owners having adequate remedy in case seizure is illegal.
Libels by the United States against the schooner Prances Louise and against 3,500 cases of alcohol, respectively. On motions to release on bond. Motions denied.
See, also, 1 F. (2d) 1004.
Laurence Curtis, Second Asst. U. S. Atty., of Boston, Mass.
Wm. H. Lewis and Matthew L. McGrath, both of Boston, Mass., for claimants.

Opinion:
MORTON, District Judge.
In view of the language of the statute (R. S. § 941 [Comp. St. § 1567]), it is doubtful whether the court has power to release on bond a vessel or property seized in proceedings of this character, and in view of the explicit intimation of the Supreme Court in. The Three Friends, 166 U. S. 1, at page 68, 17 S. Ct. 495, 41 L. Ed. 897, and of the decision of Judge Brown in The Mary N. Hogan (D. C.) 17 F. 813, it seems clear that if the power exists it ought not to be exercised against objection by the United States. If the vessel and cargo are subject to forfeiture, the owners suffer no injury by the refusal to release on bond. If the seizure was illegal, the owners are entitled to receive from the United States the fullest compensation for the loss and damage which they have suffered by the illegal seizure and by the continued detention of the vessel and cargo at the instance of the United States.
Motions denied.