Court Opinion

ID: 8634757
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:43:23.834349+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:53.584084
License: Public Domain

BENEDICT, District Judge.
The evidence in this case establishes the following facts, to wit: That in the month of September, 1869, an American register was obtained for the British brig W. B. Forest, under the act of the 23d of December, 1852, by means of the false and fraudulent statement, that the brig had been wrecked off Cape May, within the waters of the United States, then brought to this port and sold for $975. and repaired to the amount of 83,825. These statements, upon which an American register was issued to her, under the name of the brig Monte Chris-to, have been proved to be pure fabrications without foundation in fact. The vessel was repaired to the amount stated during that season, by Messrs. C. & R. Poillon, whose bill was falsely stated to have been paid, and a forged receipt exhibited as evidence of the payment, but she was never wrecked as stated, and her repairs did not equal three f ourths of the cost of the vessel when repaired. At the time of this fraud, the person claiming to be the owner of the vessel was one Jno. W. Currier; and the evidence discloses plainly, that the fraud was perpetrated with his knowledge, connivance, and procurement. In ■September, 1869, this American register, to the benefit of which the vessel was not entitled. was used by the vessel, with the knowledge of Currier, who took the oath of ownership and dispatched her on a voyage under *608it. The vessel thereupon became forfeited to the government, by virtue of the statute of December 31,1792, § 27, which declares, “that if any certificate of registry or record,- shall be fraudulently or knowingly used for any ship or vessel, not then actually entitled to the benefit thereof, according to the true 1d-tent of this act, such ship or vessel shall be forfeited to the United States, with her tackle, apparel and furniture.” 1 Stat 298.
The forfeiture created by this statute, as well as by the act of July 18, 1866 [14 Stat. 1S4], under which the evidence also brings this case, is absolute; and in such case it is well settled that the forfeiture, is not defeated by a sale to a bona fide purchaser. It is therefore unnecessary to consider the evidence offered to show that the claimant Franklin was a bona fide purchaser of the vessel, or to determine whether either he or the master, who has contracted to buy her, are chargeable with knowledge of the fraudulent character of the register under which the vessel has been sailed. There must there- | fore be a decree condemning the vessel. j
[The case was subsequently heard upon the ! question of the distribution of the informer’s ! share of the proceeds of forfeiture. Case No. ■ 9,720.] •