Bell v. Hunt

This is a libel filed by Bell to recover a balance due for raising and removing the steamboat Cricket off, and from a sand-bar, at the mouth of Shrewsbury inlet, N. J., where she had been stranded. It appears that Hunt owned the steamboat Confidence, which ran between the port of New York and Shrewsbury inlet, and that, her engine having failed, he employed and chartered the Cricket on the 4th of July, 1840, of Peck, the owner, to take her place, and that while thus employed, she was stranded, as above stated. The libellant, Bell, was engaged to get her off the sand-bar for $3,150, of which sum a balance of $350 remains unpaid. The court below decreed for the respondent, and dismissed the libel.

There is no sufficient evidence that the contract was made by Hunt with the libel-lant for the service in question. On the contrary, the weight of it is that it was made by Peck, the owner. Hunt was present when it was made, but, for aught that appears, took no part in the negotiation. Peck did. Indeed, the libellant was given to understand by Hunt, according to the proof, that Peck was the responsible man at the time the contract was made. It is supposed that Hunt may be made liable as charterer to the libel-lant. But, aside from the consideration that the contract was made with Peck and not with him, it does not appear upon what terms the Cricket was chartered. She may have been navigated by the master'and hands of the owner, and hence the charterer be not at all responsible for the safety of the ship. There is no foundation, therefore, laid for the inference sought to be raised of the liability of the respondent on this ground.

We think the decree below should be affirmed.