Case Name: THE BELLE OF THE COAST. LEONARD v. THE BELLE OF THE COAST
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1893-05-30
Citations: 56 F. 251
Docket Number: No. 13,018
Parties: THE BELLE OF THE COAST. LEONARD v. THE BELLE OF THE COAST.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 56
Pages: 251–252

Head Matter:
THE BELLE OF THE COAST. LEONARD v. THE BELLE OF THE COAST.
(District Court, E. D. Louisiana.
May 30, 1893.)
No. 13,018.
Sn&TtfEN — WAUKS—EO JUMBITUIUS — STEAMBOAT M EX.
On a libel by a steamboat mate to recover wages, the defense was that li-belant had forfeited his wages by leaving tlio boat when her cargo was on board, and she was rendj* to proceed on her voyage. Libelant had given notice oí intention to unit, and there was uncontradicted evidence that, when masters of steamboats were dissatisfied, with mates, they discharged them, and, when mates became dissatisfied, they left the service. Libelant was shown to bo a. most competent person, against whom no complaint was made, and (he sole c-ause of his leaving was a difference with the owner of (he boat as to the method of paying the crew. Held, that there was no forfeiture, and that libelant should recover.
In Admiralty. Libel by John Leonard against the steamboat Belle of the Coast to recover wages. Decree for libelant.
IT W. Robinson, for libelant.
J. D. Grace, for claimant.

Opinion:
BILLINGS, District Judge.
The allegations of the libel are, in substance, that libelant was employed, during the fall of the year 1892, as first, mate of the Belle of the Coast, at the rate of wages of $125 per month, until the 2d day of Decejnber, 1892, when, on the last-mentioned day, on account of a misunderstanding with the owner, after notice given, he left the service of said boat. The answer in substance admits the employment of libelant in the capacity and at the rate of wages aforesaid, to be paid weekly, but avers that the libelant was not entitled to quit the service of said boat at the time he did, leaving her cargo laden on board, the boat being ready to proceed on her voyage, and therefore forfeited whatever wages were due him. The evidence of libelant sustains the allegations of his libel, and W. H. Hines, M. Foley, Frank Smith, and Thomas Adams testify as to tire custom of em ploying mates, viz. that when the masters of boats are dissatisfied they discharge mates, or when the mates are dissatisfied they quit the service of the boat. This evidence is nncontradicted. The employment of mariners on boats plying between different points in the state is by verbal agreement, the provisions of the law not being understood to require shipping articles.
The sole question is, did the libelant forfeit his earned wages by reason of leaving the boat as he did? The evidence shows that the sole cause of the misunderstanding was as to the manner of paying off the crew. On boats engaged in the sugar trade the mode followed by libelant, who had been master and mate, was to pay off the gang. By this is meant that it requires six men. to handle a hogshead of sugar, and, of these men, one is designated captain of the gang, to whom is delegated the receipt of the payment of the wages of the entire gang. The owner of the boat, on the completion of the first trip; objected to this mode of payment, and, on the assurance of the libelant that he could not work satisfactorily upon any other plan, the owner acquiesced in this method,' and this mode of payment was continued on the other trips, until the one commenced on the 2d of December, 1892. During this trip the question was again raised by the owner, resulting in the quitting of the service of the boat by the libelant, he having given notice of his intention to do so. Can the claimant, solely for this reason, claim the forfeiture of the earned wages, when the evidence shows the libelant to have been a most competent person, and against whom no comnlaint had been made as to the performance of his duties? Clearly, no.
There must be judgment for libelant for the amount claimed, $23.33, with interest, as claimed.