Rosenberg v. Doe

This is an action by a seaman against the master of a vessel to recover a balance of wages alleged to be due. *192The defendant denies the liability, and also sets up a release executed before a shipping commissioner under the U. S. Rev. Sts. § 4552. The plaintiff is a Finnish sailor, and speaks the English language very imperfectly. At the trial he testified that he did not know the contents of the release when he signed it, and did so thinking it was a mere receipt for the money actually received. He also testified to circumstances which he relied on as showing fraud on the part of the…