VIRGINIA HOME INS. CO. V. SUNDBERG.
389
ability arIsmg from the grant of the patent stand unshaken, but there is affirmative proof of the patentable novelty and utility of the combination. A decree in favor of the plaintiff will be entered in each of the cases. VIRGINIA HOME INS. CO. v. SUNDBERG.
(Circuit Court, S. D. New York. 1. ADMIRALTy-PLEADING.
February 6, 1893.)
The libelant is entitled to an admission or denial of each distinct and separate averment in his libel separately and distinctly, and an answer is insufficient which admits someof the averments of the libel, but concludes: "He denies the other allegations of the fourth article, as therein alleged, and refers to the allegations of the eighth article of the answer;" such eighth article being a narrative somewhat difterent from the libelant's. An averment in the answer to It libel that the persons for whose benefit this action is prosecuted "had full notice and knowledge of and participated in the prosecution" of a former action, does not sufficiently advise the libelant whether evidence of some specific written notice in addition to a general knowledge is to be introduced, but such defect may be cured by amendment. A pleader who sets forth a detailed narrative of the movements of his own vessel cannot be required to add thereto averments as to other matters of detail upon which his adversary may wish to have specific averments, but as to which it does not appear that he has knowledge sufficient to enable him to set them forth, nor that he intends to rely upon them at the trial.
II.
SAME.
B.
In Admiralty. Libel by the Virginia Home Insn.rance Company against John P. Sundberg. Reargument on exceptions to the answer. Goo. A. Black, for plaintiff. Goodrich, Deady & Goodrich, for defendant.
LACOMBE, Circuit Judge. Upon more careful consideration of the points urged upon the reargument, I am led to the conclusion that in some respects I erred in my former decision.1 The fifth article of the answer is an answer to the fourth article of the libel. It admits separately, and distinctly some of the averments therein contained, and concludes as follows: ''He denies the other allegations of the fourth article, as therein alleged, and refers to the allegations of the eighth article of the answer." Such eighth article is a narrative of events in some respects like the libelant's, in some differing therefrom. Except for the denial above quoted, the following allegations of fact in the fourth article of the libel are neither admitted nor denied, nor is there a denial as to them of knowledge or information suffi· cient to form a belief: (1) That the Newport passed out to sea "through the Swash channel" in part; (2) that she so passed in 'No opinion was then filed.
390
FEDERAL RipORTER,
vol. 54.
part uthrongh the South channel;" (3) that she so passed on a S. E. is.;'' (4) which was the "usual channel "course course;" (5) that "at 5:35 P.M. she had Sandy Hook light bearing abeam;" (6) that Uat 5:40 P. M. she had Sandy Hook bearing west;" (7) that when she passed Scotland light-ship at 5 :50 P. "it bore west;" (8) that at such time it was "about one quarter of a mile distant;" (9) that she took her course of about S. 1 w. uwhen distant about one quarter of, a mile from Scotland light-ship, bearing west." The above-quoted' general denial is conjunctive, and does not severally deny these avermenw. Under the rules and practice, I am satisfied that libelant is entitled to an admission or denial of each distinct and separate averment in its libel, separately and distinctly; and the fifth article of the answer does not thus an· swer the fourth article of the libel. The exception to it is therefore sustained·. The third article of the answer avers that the persons for whose benefit this action is prosecuted uhad full notice and knowledge of and participated in tho prosecution" of a former action. To this libelant excepts because it 'does not state what kind of notice is intended. If, as seems probable, (and which was the view I took of the averment on the original argument,) the word "notice" is used as the equivalent of "knowledge" of the existence of the former suit, the averment is full enough, but as it stands it would warrant proof upon the trial of some specific written notice. The libelant is entitled to be advised by the answer whether anything of that kind is sought to be 'Proved. and for that reason his exception to the third article of the answer is sustained. The answer may be amended either by out the word "notice," if it is used merely as the equivalent of ''knowledge,'' or by stating what kind of notice is in· tended, if some specific one is relied on. My opinion aI!l to the sufficienoy of the exceptions to the fifth and eighth articles of the answer (except as to the denials of the fifth article) remains unchanged. I do not think the pleader who sets forth a detailed narrative of the movements of his own vessel can be required to add thereto averments as to other matters of detail, upon which his adversary may wish to have specifio. averments, but as to which it does not appear that he has knowledge sufficient to enable him to set them forth. nor that he intends to rely upon them on the trial. Nor do I think the claimant should be required to set forth the details al';ked for touching the Newport's collision with an un· known schooner. To do so would seem a reversal of the position of the respective parties. It is for the libelant to show that the Newport did collide with the John K. Shaw. The claimant it not called upon to show that she did not, and the details of a collision with some other vessel are irrelevant to this controversy. The seventh exception, namely to the ninth article, is sustained. The various points as to which express averments are asked for seem material to the sufficiency of the defense set up, and should be pleaded. In all other respects my former opinioD remains unchanged. Order accordingly.
THE CERRO GORDO.
391
mE CERRO GORDO. TABOR et al. v. THE CERRO GORDO. (District Court, D. Connecticut. No. 928. BBAJmN's WAGES-LmN-WAIVlliR-MERGER-ACTION IN STATB COURT. Seamen recovered a judgment at law for wages in a. state court agalnst a part owner, and attached and fold hls interest in the vessel, sUbject to a certain mortgage, but did not obtain full sat1st'action of their claim. The purchaser bought in thls mortgage, and subsequently became sole owner. Held, tha.t the proceedings in the state court neither operated as a waiver of· their lien nor a merger of their cause of action, and the lien eould still be enforced against the vessel to the extent of the mortgage and the interestsnot before sold.
February 28, 1893.)
In Admiralty. Libel by Nelson W. Tabor and others against the schooner Cerro Gordo to enforce a lien for seamen'. wages. Decr.ee for libelants.
Arthur L. Shipman, for libelants. Samuel Park, for claimant. TOWNSEND. District Libel in rem. There is no dispute as to the facts in this case. The libeJants, with three other seamen, originallv brou2:ht actions at law in the state court against one Henry G. Chapman, then master of the schooner Cerro Gordo, and owner of three eighths thereof, for wages as seamen on board said schooner. In said actions said schooner was attached, judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiffs, and the said interest of said Chapman was sold. under the execution, to the present claimant. The sale was made subject to certain claims, the only one among them which is of any importance in the consideration of this case being a mortKa2:e for $1.200. which was afterwards bought by this claimant. He is now the sole owner of the schooner. The amount received by libelants under the execution sale being insufficient to satisfy their claims for wages, they now seek to recover the balance thereof by a libel in rem the schooner. The claimant contends that the libelants, by the sale under the execution, waived the right to again proceed against the vessel for the same cause of action. Counsel for libelants claims that the favor shown bV courts of admiralty to the lien of seamen for wages gives them It peculiar ri!!'ht to enforce such lien in this court, and illustrates his claim bv the distinction between their lien and the implied lien of the material man. It is true that seamen are treated as a privileged class, and that, as their services are presumably necessary for the preservation of the res, their liens for are of the highest rank; and the remedies allowed them for the enforcement of their claims "ought not to be abridged, except in cases of a clear, common understanding to that effect." Jud2:e Brown. in Russell v. Rackett. 46 Fed. Rep. 201. But I do not see how these facts can give them any greater rights