United States v. The Miranda

The facts of this case are not in dispute. They are as follows: The schooner Miranda was built at Wivenhoe, England. In 1886 she was purchased by George H. B. Hill, the present claimant, who then was, and still is, a citizen of the United States. By such purchase the claimant became, and has since continued to be, the sole owner of the schooner, and she has since her purchase been used for the purposes of pleasure only, never having been employed in trade or in any kind of transportation for hire. In the year 1886 the claimant produced to the collector of the port of New York his bill of sale…