The Ella Pierce Thurlow

GRONER, District Judge.

This is a libel for seamen’s wages and for the penalty for nonpayment provided by statute.

The conclusion reached by me is that the shipping contract entered into by the libel-ants, for a voyage from New York to Hampton Road's and thence to the West Indies, was valid in all respects. It is true that all of the libelants except one, West, were'aliens; but there is nothing in the law prohibiting alien seamen from signing on for a voyage such as I think this undoubtedly was. All of the parties thoroughly understood the contract, and that it contemplated a voyage from the…