Gove v. Judson
Gove v. Judson
Opinion of the Court
The libelant, an American seaman, in May, 1879, shipped on board the American bark Rocket, then lying at Newcastle, Australia, as first mate, for a voyage to the port of Saigow, Cochin China; thence to such ports as the master might direct, and thence to the United States. The libelant sailed from Newcastle, acting as first mate, and the bark arrived at Saigow in September of the same year. The crew then wanted to be discharged on the ground
It is objected that the evidence shows that the discharge of the libelant was not “with his own consent.”- What the libelant testifies on that subject is, “My discharge there was not my voluntary act, it was compulsory; by compulsion, I mean the captain told me there was no funds to pay, and could sail no further; I requested the captain to find a consul,” etc. This evidence does not show that the libelant’s discharge was not, under the circumstance which he explains, “with his own consent,” within the meaning of the statute. His discharge was evidently “with his own consent,” although that consent was constrained and rendered necessary under the circumstances, and, in that sense, compulsory, because the captain had no funds to pay, and could sail no further; and such duress will not deprive him of his right to extra pay. Bates v. Seabury, 1 Spr. 433.
The discharge not being within the exception of section 4583, the libelant’s claim is evidently within the equity of the statute and its -intention to provide American seamen with the means of return to -this country; and he is therefore, I think, entitled to a decree for two months’ pay, amounting to $80, with interest from the time of filing the libel, September 7, 1881, making $91.60, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gove v. Judson and another
- Status
- Published