Thomas Bee

How Judge Bee rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Bee no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
Position
district
Status
Deceased
Served
1790–1812
Appointed by
George Washington (Federalist)
Commissioned
1790-06-14
Education
University of Oxford; Read law (1761)
Signed orders read
25

How Judge Bee decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

In Cowell, Bee awarded salvage despite an unsuccessful final tow because the rescuer had exhausted reasonable efforts and materially aided the distressed vessel.

“He failed indeed in bringing the brig into port; but not till he had done all that was possible.”

Procedural preferences

In Teasdale, Bee required an intervening agent to stay within the authority actually granted.

“Letters of agency, or powers of attorney, are to be pursued strictly;”

Cautions

In Robins, Bee rejected self-authenticating assertions of citizenship when deciding a treaty-based extradition request.

“the two papers produced by the prisoner, are only affidavits of his own, or a certificate founded on an affidavit, which are not evidence;”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Hindry v. The Priscilla
· 1792-07-01
Salvage claim (libellants) Granted in part

“one half of the net proceeds of such sale, as salvage”

Skrine v. The Hope
· 1793-08-29
Petition for judicial sale (libellant) Granted

“I am satisfied of Skrine’s right, and therefore decree the sale prayed for in his libel;”

Arnold v. Delcol
· 1794-07-01

Bee supplied the grounds for a district decree that was later affirmed on appeal: “The decree of the district court, founded upon these and other reasons, was confirmed in the circuit court”.

Teasdale v. The Rambler
· 1794-07-01
Plea to jurisdiction (third-party agent) Denied

“Let Sasportas’ plea be repelled with costs, as being brought forward by a person incompetent thereto.”

Tunno v. Preary
· 1794-07-01
Claim to attached fund (claimant) Denied

“the claim in *324this case be dismissed with costs”

Damages claim (actor) Granted

“the sum of 12,000 dollars be paid by the claimant to the actor.”

Stannick v. The Friendship
· 1794-08-18
Admiralty libel (libellant) Denied

“I am of opinion that the libel must be dismissed.”

Martins v. Ballard
· 1794-10-01
Damages libel (libellant) Granted

“I adjudge and order that each of them pay one moiety”

M'Grath v. Candalero
· 1794-11-10

Bee concluded that a post-decree application made after a writ of error was too late: “The second point is. whether after decree, and writ of error lodged, this application is not too late. I think it is.”

Moodie v. The Brothers
· 1795-03-15
Admiralty libel (libellant) Denied

“decree that the libel be dismissed with costs.”

Williamson v. The Betsy
· 1795-03-23
Admiralty libel (libellant) Denied

“Let the libel be dismissed with costs.”

Babbell v. Gardner
· 1796-07-01
Seamen wage claim (mate) Denied

“Let the summons be dismissed.”

Moodie v. The Amity
· 1796-07-01
Admiralty libel (libellant) Denied

“I dismiss the libel with costs.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

No case-level docket records were located for this judge, so no caseload mix or duration estimate is reported.

A historical record

Judge Bee no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.