United States v. The Sagatind

AUGUSTUS N. HAND, District Judge.

The Sagatind, a Norwegian vessel with a cargo of whisky, and tilo Diamantina, a British vessel carrying a similar cargo-, were seized by United States revenue officers about 20 miles from the shore, and libels of forfeiture were filed against these ships and their cargoes.

The canse of action set forth in the libel against the Sagatind for forfeiture under section 585 of the Tariff Act of September 21,1922 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 5841h4), is dismissed, because it appears from the testimony that the Sagatind never physically arrived within the limits of any collection district. It is argued that constructive presence is sufficient, but 1 know of no doctrine which would put such an interpretation upon this section.

The causes of action based on section 586 of the Tariff Act (section 5S41h5) are dismissed for the same reason. It would be quite unreasonable to suppose that section 586 did not involve the physical presence of the vessels sought to be forfeited within four leagues of the coast. If it could be constructively present, and have its merchandise unladen through the agency of smaller boats, there would never have been any need of the 4-league statute. It could have had a similar constructive - presence, even if 1,000 miles off shore, and might have been equally subject to seizure by reason of unlading through a contact boat.

In respect to a forfeiture under the Volstead Act, I find no provision, except section 26 of title 2 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § lOlSS'/ámm), which relates to- forfeiture, and in order to bring that section into play it is necessary to have pleaded and proved the conviction of the person in charge. No such facts have been shown, and the causes of action under this section are therefore dismissed.

There being no evidence adduced as to the ninth cause of action it is dismissed.

In respect to section 3450 of the United States Revised Statutes (Comp. St. § 6352), irrespective of whether or not the contact boat could reach land within one hour, I am entirely persuaded, after full argument of counsel, that it does not apply. Without the treaty it would he impossible to work a case of forfeiture because, whatever interpretation or effect he given to this statute, the seizure must have been invalid. With the treaty the libelant is no better off, for by its terms it relates to prohibition, and not to customs acts. I shall therefore not deeide the question which' I have heretofore refused to pass on (because it was unnecessary to do so) whether section 3450, supra, is not supplanted as a ground of forfeiture by section 26 of the National Prohibition Act.

For the foregoing reason's, all causes of action against the Sagatind must be dismissed.

In respect to- the libel against the cargo of the Sagatind the same reasoning applies as in case of the Sagatind. Neither section 26 of the Prohibition Act, nor section 3450 of the Revised Statutes, can therefore justify a forfeiture. Section 592 of the Tariff Act of 1922 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 5841hll) is also invoked in respect to this cargo; but that section, by its express terms, cannot justify a seizure outside of the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The treaty does not operate as an extension of such jurisdiction, except in aid of prohibition statutes, and section 592 is a customs act. It is unnecessary to discuss the question whether the contact boat could have made the shore in one hour. The evidence offered to show that she could impressed me as doubtful, but I am deciding the eases wholly on points of law. On the law the conclusions I have reached seem to me absolutely inevitable.

Coming now to the Diamantina and its cargo-, the libels set forth similar causes of action to those against the Sagatind and her cargo.

The libels in all four cases must ho dismissed, and certificates of probable cause for the seizures are granted to the officers making the same.

Settle decrees on notice.