Court Opinion

ID: 8309789
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-17 13:46:48.169245+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:44:40.864527
License: Public Domain

Bond, J.
The demurrer in this case raises the question whether it is an offense against the United States to harbor seamen deserting from a vessel of a foreign power. The information alleges that the soamen harbored belonged to the bark Dagmal, but does not allege that the Dagmal was an American vessel.
The prosecution contend that the words of section 4601, Rev. St., “any seaman belonging to any vessel,” under which this information is filed, are unlimited, and apply equally to cases of desertion from domestic and foreign vessels. Upon examination of the statutes, however, the court is of opinion that section 4601 is to be read in connection with and is limited by the words of section 4612, which provides that in the construction of this title (“Merchant Seaman”) the word “seaman” shall be taken to be one employed, etc., “on a vessel belonging to any citizen of the United States,” and the word “vessel” shall be understood to comprehend every description of “vessel to which the provisions of this title may be applicable.” Surely, “Title LIII, Merchant Seamen,” Rev. St., is not applicable to foreign vessels.
This conclusion is further confirmed by reference to the merchant shipping act of 1790, (from which section 4601, Rev. St., is taken,) which refers, in all its provisions, to American vessels and American seamen.
The remedy which, by treaty with foreign powers, the United States gives in cases of foreign seamen deserting from foreign vessels *658within the jurisdiction of the United States, is contained- in section 5280, Rev. St., whereby, upon demand of the resident consul, etc., and by procedure as therein indicated, such foreign seamen are arrested and delivered, upon extradition process, to the consul, to be sent back to the dominions of such foreign power, etc.
When the provisions of this statute (section 5280) are exhausted, the government of the United States has fulfilled its obligations with foreign powers under the commercial treaties providing for extradition of deserting seamen;,it has not contracted in any such treaties to punish the harborer on this soil, nor has it so provided in its own .statutes.
It is therefore ordered that the demurrer be sustained and the information dismissed.