United States v. The Grace Lothrop

APPEAL from the Circuit Court of he United States for the District of Massachusetts.

This is an information against the brig 'Grace Lothrop' for a violation of the act of June 7, 1872, 17 Stat. (262), as amended by the act of Jan. 15, 1873, id. 410.

The grounds of the information are, that on the 18th of December, 1873, at Boston, one Atwood, while master of that vessel, did knowingly receive and accept, to be entered on board, five seamen who had been theretofore engaged for a voyage from Boston to a port in the West Indies, by agreements in writing that had not been signed in the presence of a shipping commissioner, &c.

The answer of Atwood, the claimant, admits the facts as alleged, but denies that engagements for voyages to the West Indies are within the statutes referred to.

The court having dismissed the information, the United States appealed here.

The Solicitor-General for the appellant.

Mr. Seth J. Thomas, contra.

MR. JUSTICE CLIFFORD delivered the opinion of the court.