BRIGGS V. TAYLOR.
681
case has been tried, and it seems to me that time and expense, and perhaps further litigation, will be saved by this court taking jurisdiction of this case, which it does, notwithstanding the courteous let· ter of the British consul to the contrary. The libel is therefore dis· missed, with costs. Let a decree be entered accordingly.
THE RABBONI. THE NELLIE E. RUMBALL.
(Circuit Court ot Appeals, First Circuit. Nos. 113-116. COSTS IN ADMIRALTY ApPEALS-DoCKET FEES.
February 1, 1898.)
In cross appeals heard together on the same evidence only one docket fee is taxable.
This was an appeal from the clerk's taxation of costs. For report of the opinion on the merits, see 26 C. C. A. 379, 81 Fed. 239. Edward S. Dodge, for the Nellie E. Rumball. Eugene P. Carver, for the Rabboni. Before COLT, Circuit Judge, and ALDRICH, District Judge. PER CURIAM. This is an appeal from the clerk's taxation, in which four docket or attorney fees were allowed the prevailing party. In the controversy to which this taxation relates there were two appeals and two cross appeals. The appeals and appeals were entered separately upon the docket, but heard together upon the same evidence, and there was a decree that "costs in this court are adjudged to the owners of Nellie E. Rumball." Such decree means only that costs are to be taxed in accordance with the statutes, the rules, and the ordinary practice. The practice in the supreme court is to tax one fee only in case of an appeal and a cross appeal. Uniformity in matters of this kind is desirable, and for this reason we adopt the practice of the supreme court,. although for a considerable period a different practice has obtained in this circuit. The taxation should be modified according to these views, and it is therefore ordered that the taxation shall include two docket fees only. It is also ordered that a mandate issue at once. BRIGGS v. TAYLOR.
(Circuit Court ot Appeals, Fourth Circuit. No. 287. ADMIRALTY PROCEDURE-PARTIES-AppgARANCE.
When a stranger to an original libel in rem, claiming to be the owner. gives a release bond conditioned to restore the vessel as the court shaH direct, pay damages for its use and detention, and "perform any other judgment which the court may render," etc., be thereby becomes a party to the cause, and is bound by a default decree thereafter entered in accordance with stipulations of the bond.
682
84 FEDERAL REPORTER.
Appealfrom the District Court of the United States for the East· ern, of Virginia. . . Edward R. Baird, for appellant. Hughes & Hughes, for appellee. Before GOFF and SIMONTON, Circuit Judges, and PURNELL, District Judge. PURNELJ"." District Judge. On the 12th day of April, 1897, appellee filed in the district court for the Eastern district of Virginia a libel in due fol'lll against the steam launch Sylph, her engines, tackle, etc., and "against all persons intervening for their interest therein." The libel alleges sole ownership, and that the launch had been navigated under authority of libelant by one Raper, as master, until the morning when the libel was filed, when Raper was removed, and another appointed master; that Raper refused to give up possession; that the vessel was in the district; that the premises were true, and within the admiralty jurisdiction of the court. Stipulations were filed, attachment issued, and was served on Raper. On the same day a bond was filed with George S. Briggs, appellant, as principal, and two sureties, for the release of the vessel, reciting that whereas, George S. Briggs, the "appellant," claims to be the owner of a certain steam launch called the "Sylph," and desires to take the said steam laun'Ch into possession, etc., and providing for the return of the said steam launch, and the payment of damages and costs, in thetisual form. On the 3d day of Maya decree was entered (the time allowed by law and by the rules of the court for making defense having elapsed, and no defense having been interposed) adjudging the said G. S. Briggs and steam launch in contumacy and default, and the libel taken for confessed. The court then proceeded to hear the cause ex parte, and, upon satisfactory proofs, adjudged appellee the owner of the launch, "and no one else is such owner," the po'3session of G. S. Briggs wrongful, and ordered the marshal to put appellee in possession. The cause was then referred to a commissioner to ascertain a·nd report to what extent the launch had been damaged since the. filing of the libel, together with what was a reasonable sum per diem for her use. On the 8th of May the commissioner filed his report, and on the 11th of May, no exceptions being filed, a decree was entered confirming the report, ordering restoration of the vessel, and judgment against the appellant and sureties on the bond. Six days thereafter appellant filed a petition reciting the proceedings, claiming he was not a party thereto, that no process had been issued against or served on him, and that he was interested in the vessel by a title merely equitable. This petition closes with the statement: "Appearing, therefore, solely for the purpose of moving to set these proceedings aside, he respectfully shows that the same are coram non judice and void as to him," etc. Appellee filed an answer to this petition, and against his protest the case was again referred and the damages reduced. Appellant appeared, and introduced testimony before the commissioner, and filed exceptions to the report, all of which are to items of damage, and not of law,
683
which exceptions were overruled, and a decree entered for appellee, from which Briggs appealed. The grounds of appeal are not tenable. There are two well-known ways by which a party can get into court,-one passive, one active; the latter being even more effective than the former. There may be defects in process or in service, but, when a party comes into court of his own motion, there can be neither. And this is as true in courts of admiralty and maritime, as in courts of law and equity, jurisdiction. Briggs was not a party to the original libel proceedings,-he was not known to the court,-but for some reason he gave bond, claiming to be the owner of the launch, which claim he never, as far as the record shows, attempted to prove; but he took possession of the vessel, and presumably used it, for it is alleged in the bond that it was necessary to him in his business. The condition of the bond was for the restoration of the property as the court should direct, together. with damages for the use and detention, "and to perform any other judgment which the court may render in said cause, and pay all costs and damages which may be awarded against him by said court," etc. Briggs thus made himself a party to the proceeding as effectually as if process had been regularly issued against and served on him. He voluntarily took Raper's place, and ignored Raper in all subsequent proceedings. The libel was properly against the vessel in rem, and in personam against the person in possession. U. S. Admiralty Rule 20; The Corsair, 145 U. S. 335, 12 Sup. Ct. 949; The S. C. Ives, Newb. 205, Fed. Cas. No. 7,958. Raper has never answered. The time expired for answering under the rules, and Briggs, in possession using the launch, ignoring alike Raper and the court, offered no defense or proof of ownership. return day passed, and no defense was offered. Under the circumstances, it was not only in accordance with the rules in ad· miralty, but the duty of the judge to pronounce him in contumacy and default, and adjudge the libel to be taken pro confesso, and to proceed to hear the cause ex parte. Under such circumstances, a default has the same effect as a default at common law. Rule 29; Miller v. U. S., 11 Wall. 268. The proceedings being regular, it was too late, six days after a decree, to enter a "special appearance," and, subsequent proceedings being all at the instance of the appellant, he waived any supposed irre1!ularity. The relief granted by the decree was only such as was stipulated for in the bond. The proceedings after May 11th were at the instance of appellant, and the exceptions involve no question of law, but are to findings of fact. "And other plain errors," as assigned in the record, is not a compliance with the rules of this court. Errors not assigned according to the rules will be disre· garded, but the court, at its option, may notice a plain error not assigned. Rule 11, 21 C. C. A. cxii., 78 Fed. cxii. We see no reason to exercise this option. The original bond having been adjudged sufficient for the retention of the launch, and appellant having paid the cost in the district court, the judgment here is that the decree appealed from be affirmed,
684
and that 9,ppellee recover his costs in this court expended. This cause is remanded to the court below, with instructions that a decree be entered agllinilt appellant, and the sureties on his bond, for such damages as may be proper on account of the detention of the said vessel by said George S. Briggs. Affirmed.
THE TILLIE .A.. THE ELLEN J .. CORNELL STEAMBOAT CO. v. THE TILLIE .A.. SAME v. THE ELLEN J.
(District Court, S. D. New York. October 30, 1897.) TOWAGE-CHARTERED SCOw-IMPLIED No'rrcE-No LIEN. The C. Steamboat Co. was in the habit of towing boats belonging to S. & S. on the North river, and rendering to them In New York monthly accounts for towages for payment. S. & S. chartered the above-named two scows to one Van Buren, and, according to the testimony, gave notice of the charter by telephone to the steamboat company, and that S. & S. would not be responsible for any bills. The company's testimony denied such notice, and alleged that the telephone message was to tow· the scows to Fishkill and send bills to Van Buren. Others in the company's office testified that inquiries were made as to the standing of Van Buren. The bills for these towages were rendered at Fishkill, and not to S. & S. until several months afterwards. Held, that the libelant company was at least sufficiently put upon Inquiry as to the facts, and that the towages were no lien upon the scows.
These were two libels in rem to recover towage. Edwin J. Davis, for libelant. Macklin, Cushman & Adams, for claimants. BROWN, District Judge., The above libels were filed to recover for the towage of the scows Tillie A. and Ellen J. from New York to Fishkill and back, in J:u.Iy and August, 1896. The scows, owned by Sheridan & Shea, had been chartered by them to one Van Buren . at Fishkill. Sheridan & Shea had been in the habit of having various boats belonging to them towed by the Cornell Steamboat Company, for which towal'e bills :were rendered to them from month to month in the usual course or business. At the time tliese two scows were chartered to Van Buren, a clerk in the office of Sheridan & Shea, according to his testimony, gave notice by telephone to the office of the Cornell Steamboat Company that the two scows were chartered, and that they would not be responsible for any bills on the scows' account, and that the steamboat company must look to Van Buren for their pay. The employes of the steamboat company testify that the message received was: "Tow scow Ellen J. to Fishklll and send bill to Van Buren." They deny that any notice of the charter was given, or that Sheridan & Shea would not be responsible for the bills. One of the employes, however, states that inquiry was made if they knew the standing of Van Buren; which the respondents' clerk says was an inquiry made of them in reference to