Court Opinion

ID: 8121168
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 14:54:03.462217+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:00.710810
License: Public Domain

Dorns, J.
Tliis is a libel in rem for damages in the nature of wages for cruel treatment of the libellants by the officers of the British bark “Ivanhoe,” the libellee. The master, George AAT. Grant, intervened for the owners and filed his answer.
Hpon the evidence received in the trial of this case, and the law applicable thereto, the court finds as follows:
*78The charge of cruel treatment of the libellants by the first mate is sustained by the evidence. The master was cognizant of such treatment of the libellants by his subordinate officer, and failing to protect them therefrom, the ship is liable.
The libellant J. IT. Bayer failed to complain of the mate’s conduct at Iquique, the first port reached by the vessel, after the beginning of the voyage and where there was a British Consul: he is therefore deemed to have condoned the same as it affects his contract of hiring and employment on the said vessel, and has no legal claim for damages in this court.
The contracts of hiring and employment of W. B. Dyer, A. Anderson and Y. A. Bitner on the same vessel were terminated by reason of such cruel treatment upon their election to leave the vessel at Honolulu.
The disrating of AAC B. Dyer and A. Anderson on the voyage by the master was justifiable, but they should have been allowed the regular wages of ordinary seamen thereafter.
The court awards to AV. B. Dyer, A. Anderson and Y. A. Bitner, as damages, wages of ordinary seamen employed for the same voyage, to-wit: three pounds and ten shillings, sterling, a month, from June 26th, 1903, the date of the beginning of the voyage, to March 28th, 1904, the probable termination of the voyage as testified to by the master, subject only to the charges against them individually on account of supplies received from the ship’s slop-chest, according to the following statement, with costs. The libel as to J. H. Bayer is dismissed with costs to the libellee.

Statement.

AAffiges at three pounds ten shillings per month and exchange at $4.83 makes the rate of wages in United States coin $16.90 per month.
Full amount of wages due each of the above named libellants $153.22.
*79TV. H Dyer — AYages............................$153.22
Less slop'chest account.............i........ 10.70
Net amount of judgment....................$142.52
A. Anderson — AVages...........................$153.22
Less slop-cliest account...................... 12.25
Net amount of judgment....................$140.97
AL A. JBitner — AYages-...........................$153.22
Less slop-chest account...................... 9.25
Net amount of judgment....................$143.97
Total .................................$427.46