Ex Parte Slayton

We are of 'opinion that, notwithstanding Admiralty Rules Nos. 54, 55, 56, and 57 of this court, the owner of a vessel may institute appropriate proceedings, in a court of competent juris .diction, to obtain the benefit of the limitation of liability provided for by. sects. 4284 and 4285 of the Revised. Statutes, without waiting for a suit to be begun against him or his vessel for the loss out of which the’ liability arises. As was said at this term in The Scotland (supra, p. 24), our rules were not intended to prevent an owner from availing himself of any other remedy or process which the law…