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4 S.C.L. 371

Pritchard v. Muir

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided January 15, 1810

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1810-01-15

Action of assumpsit, for work done, and materials found, for the ship Jane, in the port of Charleston, tried before Bay, J. Verdict for plaintiff. The defence was, that the ship Jane was a British ship, owned by persons m England. That the plaintiff’s remedy, as the Jane was a foreign ship, was cither against the ship, the owners, or the master, or against the ship owners and captain.

Decided 1810-01-15

¶1*374January 13th, 1810.

Bat, J.,

¶2delivered the opinion of the court, Gkimke, J., absent. This isa case not within the statute of frauds. The- jury were instructed to enquire whether the plaintiff did not contract with the-defendants, and look to them for compensation. A consignee may make himself liable. The pvidenee was strong to prove that the plaintiff considered the contract to be a personal one with the defendants, and relied on them for payment. He might have afterwards taken up the idea that he had a lien on the ship, or he might have thought so from the first; but if he was right or wrong in this idea, it would not impair the dependence he had, or the contract wifh the defendants. A party may have a choice of remedies. He had a lien on the ship. He had a right to charge the owner. He had also a right to charge the defendants on their contract. He may abandon one remedy, and resort to another.

¶3Motion rejected.

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