Case Name: HARRIS v. NUGENT
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1829-11
Citations: 11 F. Cas. 642
Docket Number: 
Parties: HARRIS v. NUGENT.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 11
Pages: 642–642

Head Matter:
Case No. 6,126.
HARRIS v. NUGENT.
[3 Cranch, C. C. 649.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Nov. Term, 1829.
Maritime Jurisdiction — Fekrtboat — Liability op Master por Wages.
1. The maritime law does not apply to such boats as the Tyber steamboat, a ferryboat running between Washington and Alexandria.
[Cited in Murray v. The F. B. Nimick, 2 Fed. 90.]
2. The master of such a boat is not personally liable for the wages of the hands.
Appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace for the wages of [William B.] Nu-gent on board the Tyber steamboat, a ferryboat, or packet, running between Washington and Alexandria. Nugent was the plaintiff below. The evidence which he relied upon was the following paper: “Shipped W. A. B. Nugent, May 6, 1S29, on board the Tyber steamboat, at twenty-two dollars per month. For the steamboat Tyber, John Harris.” And parol evidence that Harris was the master of the boat; but had been dismissed before suit brought. The justice had given judgment only for the amount of wages up to the time when the master was dismissed.
[Reported by Hon. William Crunch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
THE COURT
(nem. con.) reversed the.judgment; being of opinion that it was not a personal engagement by Harris, and that the maritime law did not apply to such boats, so employed.