United States v. Coffin
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts
Indictment [against Thaddeus Coffin] for maliciously, and without justifiable cause, forcing a seaman of the ship Fabius on shore in a foreign port, to wit. at the Sandwich Islands, contrary to the crimes act of 1825, c. 276, § 10 [3 Story's Laws, 1999 ; 4 Stat. 115]. Plea, general issue, not guilty.
1Opinion of the Court
STORY. Circuit Justice,
in summing up to the jury, said: In this case, it is admitted, that the ship Fabius is an American ship, and Frederick Daniels was one of her crew, and the steward of the ship on a whaling voyage to the Pacific. It is also admitted, and indeed is proved beyond all controversy, that he (Daniels) was forced ashore by the direct orders and instrumentality of the master, at the port of Mahee,- in one of the Sandwich Islands, against his will, and landed on the beach there with his chest, without any means of subsistence, for the purpose of finally separating him from the…
2Cited by1 opinion
- Case of the Chinese Laborers on ShipboardUnited States Circuit Court · 1882