Furti adversus nautas caupones stabularios
(Concerning Theft Committed Against Captains of Vessels, Innkeepers, and Landlords.)
1Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXVIII. An action is granted against those who have control of ships, inns, and other places of public entertainment, where anything is alleged to have been stolen by any one of them, or by persons in their employ; whether the theft was committed with the aid and advice of the proprietor himself, or the owner of the ship, or of those who were on board for the purpose of navigation. 1We understand the words “for the purpose of navigation,” to refer to those who are employed to navigate a ship, that is to say, the sailors. 2This action is also for double damages. 3For when property is lost in an inn or on a ship, the owner or lessee of the vessel, or the landlord, is liable under the Edict of the Prætor; so that it is in the power of the person from whom the property was stolen to proceed against the proprietor under the Prætorian Law, or against the thief under the Civil Law, whichever he may prefer. 4If the innkeeper or the owner of the ship received the property “to be safely cared for,” the owner of the same cannot bring the action for theft, but he who assumed responsibility for its safe-keeping will be entitled to bring it. 5The owner of the ship, however, can release himself from liability incurred by the act of his slave, by surrendering the latter by way of reparation for the damage committed. Why then should not the owner be condemned, who permitted so bad a slave to remain on his ship? And why is he held liable for the entire amount for the act of a freeman, and not for that of the slave? unless when he employed a freeman, it was his duty to ascertain what his character was; but he should be excused so far as his slave is concerned, just as in the case of a bad domestic, if he is ready to surrender him by way of reparation for the damage he committed. If, however, he employed a slave belonging to another, he will be liable, as in the case of a freeman. 6An innkeeper is responsible for the acts of those who are in his house for the purpose of transacting his business, as well as for all permanent lodgers; he is, however, not responsible for the acts of travellers, since an innkeeper cannot select the travellers, nor can he exclude them while they are pursuing their journey. He, however, to a certain extent, selects his permanent lodgers, if he does not reject them, and he must be liable for their acts. In like manner, the captain of a ship is not liable for the acts of his passengers.