Waterman S.S. Corporation v. Brill

The question, in essence, for our decision is succinctly stated by able counsel for appellant, in brief: Are the wages of a seaman engaged in the ordinary coastwise trade subject to garnishment?

The ruling of the trial judge upon this question was in the affirmative, hence this appeal by the garnishee (appellant), which had concluded otherwise, ignored a garnishment served upon it, and paid to Seaman Roselle his wages, earned while engaged in his duties in the coastwise trade.

Section 61, 17 Stat. 262, U.S. Shipping Commissioners' Act of June 7, 1872, reenacted and slightly modified by Section…