Page:United States Reports, Volume 1.djvu/403

392 

1788.

HIS was an action brought by the Plaintiff to recover his wages as mate of a veffel,of which the Defendant was mafter, and one Sadlier was the owner. On the trial, it appeared, that the Defendant, having cited the Plaintiff to fhew his caufe of action acknowledged before the Judge at his chambers, that he was captain of the veffel during the time for which the wages were claimed ; but then he infifted, that he had never engaged the Plaintiff, who, as he faid, was fhipped on a contract with the owner. To prove the time of fervice, the following certificate, fubfcribed by the Defendant was read: –“ Philadelphia, 12th January, 1787. Thefe are

“ to certify to whom it may concern, that Joʃhua Ferrel was mate

“ on board the  from the 16th June to the 16th Auguʃt,  “ 1786, making two months. Given under my hand, Robert

“ M‘Clea.−NB. At the wages of twenty dollars per month, as

“ per Mr. Sadlier's agreement.”

Levy, for the Defendant, infifted, that the cafe, depending entirely on the confeffion of the party, the whole of it muft be taken together; Newman v. Bradley. ant. 240. that then it would appear, as well from the certificate, as from the acknowledgment before the Judge, that the Plaintiff had been employed by the owner of the veffel, and not by the captain ; and, confequently, that the owner and not the captain was liable for the wages. He admitted, that where a captain fhipped a failor, or ordered repairs, he was refponfible ; out he contended, that there muft be a fhipment by the captain to charge him on the general principle ; Doug. 99. 100. and that where the captain, or the owner, undertakes by an aʃʃumpʃit, either exprefs or implied, the other is difcharged. 2Stra.816. He endeavoured alfo to eftablifh a diftinction between a mte and the common mariners, the mate being, he obferved, a midle character between the feamen and the captain; and thence, he argued, that, like the captain, he was not entitled to the advantages which the maritime law provides for the feamen. 12Mod. 440.

Moylan, for the Plaintiff, ftated, that mariners had a threefold fecurity for their wages:− 1ft, They may proceed againft the owners ; 2dly, They may libel the veffel ; or, 3dly, They may fue the captain. He faid, that the captain was not bound to receive any failors fhipped by the owners; becuaufe he was not only liable to the owners, but to ftrangers, for any wrong that they might do when fhipped ; but, he contend, that, it the captain did receive them, he made himfelf liable for their wages; 12 Mod. 434. and he anfwered the authorities cited for the Defendant, by fhewing, that they were cafes of repairs, where workmen were employed by the owners, and could not be rejected or difmiffed by the captain ; nor was he anfwerable for their conduct.− That the contract was, in fact, made by the owner, he obferved, refted entirely on the teftimony of the Defendant ; and he urged the neceffity of great caution