United States v. Martinson

52 F.2d 982, 1931 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1730
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMay 28, 1931
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 52 F.2d 982 (United States v. Martinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Martinson, 52 F.2d 982, 1931 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1730 (E.D.N.Y. 1931).

Opinion

CAMPBELL, District Judge.

This is a hearing on the petitions of Chester A. Poling, Inc., Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Inc., and Jakobson & Peterson, Inc., respectively, to intervene and establish each of their liens upon the auxiliary fishing schooner Mary A, her engines, etc., in the above-entitled actions.

All of the petitions above mentioned being for intervention in the same suit, affecting the same vessel, one opinion will be sufficient.

At the time of the seizure of the said auxiliary fishing schooner Mary A, and at the time of the conviction, hereinafter described, of the defendant Martin Martinson, he was the owner of the said vessel, auxiliary fishing schooner Mary A.

On March 18, 1931, the said defendant Martin Martinson, owner of the said auxiliary fishing schooner Mary A, was found guilty in this court of the charge of transportation of intoxicating liquor, and the court ordered forfeiture of said vessel as provided by the National Prohibition Act (title 2, § 26 [27 USCA § 40]).

On March 30, 193.1, an order was made directing the United States marshal to forthwith take into his possession the said vessel, and forthwith cause a notice to be published of the seizure of said vessel, and that on a day and place therein stated an opportunity would be afforded to all persons having claims or liens upon the said American auxiliary sehooner Mary A to intervene and be heard, in default of which the said Mary A would be declared to be forfeited to the use of the United States of America.

In pursuance of the terms of that order, the above-named filed petitions for permission to intervene, and on the 18th day of May, 1931 a hearing was had on each of the said petitions.

As to the petition of Chester A. Poling, Inc.:

On all the evidence I find the facts as follows:

That said corporation operated the boat Overland, which was engaged in selling fuel oil and other things of like character to vessels.

That the said Chester A. Poling, Inc., sold and furnished fuel oil for use on the Mary A between November 5,1930, and January 6, 1931.

That the sales made by Chester A. Poling, Inc., to the Mary A were made at Fulton Fish Market, where the Mary A was at the time, and that the Mary A had scallops aboard and had the appearance of a boat engaged in the transportation of fish.

That the fuel oil sold by Chester A. Poling, Inc., was receipted for by the .defendant Martin Martinson, who was captain and owner of the .boat, and had purchased fuel oil before that time from Chester A. Poling, Inc.

That all of the surrounding circumstances, as well as the direct evidence, show entire good faith on the part of Chester A. Poling, Inc., and the captain of its boat Overland who made the sale, and lack of any knowledge on the part of Chester A. Poling, Inc., that the said vessel was being used, or was to bo used, for illegal transportation of liquor.

That the materials and supplies so furnished by Chester A. Poling, Inc., to and for the use of the vessel Mary A were fit, proper, and necessary for said vessel, and that the fair, reasonable, and agreed price thereof was $100.62, no part of which sum has been paid.

I therefore find as conclusions of law: That Chester A. Poling, Inc., is entitled to intervene, and has a valid maritime lien against the said auxiliary fishing sehooner Mary A for $.100.62, for the materials and supplies furnished to her, and that said lien was a bona fide lion, and was created without the lienor having any notice that the said vessel Mary A was being used, or was to be used, for illegal transportation of liquor.

As to Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Inc.:

That said corporation is engaged in the business of furnishing and installing engines and other merchandise necessary for use in connection therewith in boats.

That on October 17, 1930, the defendant Martin Martinson, who was the owner of the auxiliary sehooner Mary A, called upon the representatives of said corporation, informed them that said vessel Mary A was engaged in the fish and scallop trade, and [984]*984ordered an engine and other material to be used in connection therewith.

That the, said corporation, Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Inc., required the said Martin Martinson to furnish a credit statement containing the names of references, and he complied with their request and gave them certain names, which statement was on a printed form and offered in evidence.

That Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Inc., communicated with those offered as references, and received favorable replies.

That on November, 13, 1930, the printed contract dated October 17, 1930, was approved by Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Inc.

That by said contract, which was offered in evidence, it agreed to deliver to the said defendant Martin Martinson, for use on the vessel Mary A, one starboard marine Diesel engine with reverse gear and regular equipment; one pyrometer; one pilot house control, and one built-in bilge pump, for $6,209, of which $1,000 was to be paid in cash with the order, $1,000 on the shipment of the machinery and materials, and $4,209 in six equal installments beginning ninety days after shipment and ending on the 13th day of December, 1931.

The engine and machinery were delivered’ by said Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Ine., on the credit of the vessel Mary A, and were fit, proper, and necessary for-said vessel, and the fair and reasonable and agreed price of such machinery- and materials so furnished to said vessel whs $6,209, no part of which has been paid except the sum of $2,-701.50 paid on account, and that there remains due and owing to said Fairbanks, Morse & Co., -Ine., the sum of $3,507.50, with interest thereon from the 13th day of November, 1930, at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum.

All the surrounding circumstances, as well as the direct evidence, show entire good faith on the part of Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Inc., its agents and servants, and lack of any 'knowledge on the part of Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Ine., that the said ves’sel was being used, or whs to be used, for illegal transportation of' liquor.

I therefore find as conclusions of law: That Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Ine., is entitled to intervene and .has established that it has a valid maritime lien against the auxiliary fishing schooner Mary A for $3,507.50, with interest thereon from the 13th day of November, 1930, at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, and that said lien .was a.bonafide lien, and was created without the lienor having any notice that the said vessel Mary A was being used, or was to be used, for illegal transportation of liquor.

As to Jakobson and Peterson, Ine.:

On all the evidence I find as follows:

That said corporation maintains a shipyard at the foot of Sixteenth avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., and is engaged in the business of building and repairing vessels, and has been engaged in that business for many years; the yard in question having been operated by it for over 11 years.

That in the month of October, 1930, the defendant Martin Martinson, who informed the said Jakobson & Peterson, Ine., that he had been sent to them by Fairbanks, Morse &

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Related

The Whippoorwill
52 F.2d 985 (D. Maryland, 1931)

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Bluebook (online)
52 F.2d 982, 1931 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1730, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-martinson-nyed-1931.