Whenever any such seaman or apprentice dies at any place out of the United States, leaving any money or effects not on board of his vessel, the consular officer of the United States at or nearest the place shall claim and take charge of such money and effects, and shall, if he thinks fit, sell all or any of such effects, or any effects of any deceased seaman or apprentice delivered to him under the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4501-4613], and shall quarterly remit to the district court for the district embracing the port from which such vessel sailed, or the port where the voyage terminates, all moneys belonging to or arising from the sale of the effects or paid as the wages of any deceased seamen or apprentices which have come to his hands; and shall render such accounts thereof as the circuit court requires. (R. S., 4541; Mar. 3, 1897; sec. 4.)
Whenever any seaman or apprentice dies in the United States, and is, at the time of his death, entitled to claim from the master or owner of any vessel in which he has served, any unpaid wages or effects, such master or owner shall pay and deliver, or account for the same, to the shipping-commissioner at the port where the seaman or apprentice was discharged, or was to have been discharged, or where he died. (R. S., 4542; Mar. 3, 1897; sec. 6.)
Every shipping-commissioner in the United States shall, within one week from the date of receiving any such money, wages, or effects of any deceased seaman or apprentice, pay, remit, or deliver to the district court of the district in which he resides, the money, wages, or effects, subject to such deductions as may be allowed by the district court for expenses incurred in respect to such money and effects; and should any commissioner fail to pay, remit, and deliver the same to the district court, within the time hereinbefore mentioned, he shall incur a penalty of not more than treble the value of such money and effects. (R. S., 4543.)
If the money and effects of any seaman or apprentice paid, remitted, or delivered to the district court, including the moneys received for any part of his effects which have been sold, either before delivery to the district court, or by its directions, do not exceed in value the sum of three hundred dollars, then, subject to the provisions hereinafter contained, and to all such deductions for expenses incurred in respect to the seaman or apprentice, or of his money and effects, as the said court thinks fit to allow, the court may pay and deliver the said money and effects to any claimants who can prove themselves either to be his widow or children, or to be entitled to the effects of the deceased under his will, or under any statute, or at common law, or to be entitled to procure probate, or take out letters of administration or confirmation, although no probate or letters of administration or confirmation have been taken out, and shall be thereby discharged from all further liability in respect of the money and effects so paid and delivered; or may, if he thinks fit so to do, require probate, or letters of administration or confirmation, to be taken out, and thereupon pay and deliver the said money and effects to the legal personal representatives of the deceased; and if such money and effects exceed in value the sum of three hundred dollars, then, subject to deduction for expenses, the court shall pay and deliver the same to the legal personal representatives of the deceased. (R. S., 4544.)