Court Opinion

ID: 8126170
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 15:06:40.414005+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:14.095161
License: Public Domain

Brown, J.
This libel is for the balance of an account between a wharfinger and a steam-boat, and is clearly not maintainable. The items of libelant’s claim are (1) for freight collected for the steamer, and paid over to her, for which there is clearly no lien, even if more were paid than was due; (2) for wharfage; and (S) for merchandise delivered to the steamer, to be disposed of and the proceeds credited to the libelant.
The last item I held not to be a lien in The New Hampshire, 21 Fed. Rep. 924.
Perhaps the items for wharfage might be a lien under the state law, if the suit were for a wharfage alone; but, if it be for a balance of a running account, the fact that some of the items are maritime in their character will not confer jurisdiction upon this court. The Gold Hunter, 17 How. 477.
The cases wherein a court of admiralty will take jurisdiction of accounts are well stated by Judge Ware in The Larch, 3 Ware, 28, 34. If all libelant’s items were a lien upon the vessel, and the credits could be treated as so much payment upon account, I would entertain jurisdiction; but where it is apparent from the pleading that the suit is in reality to settle an account, and to recover a balance due, the libel will not bo sustained.