United States v. Ladd. The Mohican. The Eloise

DOBIE, Circuit Judge.

This' libel in admiralty was instituted in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia under the Public Vessels Act, 46 U.S.C.A. § 781 et seq., by one Ladd (hereinafter called libellant) to recover from the United States (hereinafter called appellant) damages sustained by his sloop Eloise, due to the alleged negligent manoeuvering of the coast guard cutter Mohican.

On Sunday, July 23, 1950, the sloop Eloise, owned by the libellant, was sailing on a shakedown cruise in Norfolk Harbor. The Eloise is a large Marconi rigged sloop, 54 feet in length,…