The John Cooker

BENEDICT, District Judge.

This action is brought to recover the damages caused to the steamboat J. A. Stevens by a blow from the barge James W. Eaton, delivered on the 15th day of June, 1878, off the Fulton Ferry slip, on the Brooklyn side of the East river. The barge was at the time being towed on a hawser by the propeller John Cooker. The action is against both the barge and the tug, and it appears from the answer that the same claimant has claimed both the vessels, and by consent has given a single stipulation for value to stand in place of both vessels. Under such circumstances, the tug…