308 BILLS OF LADING. [ART 14

unless such title or right is derived, directly or indirectly, from a
transfer made by the consignor or consignee after the shipment, or
from the carrier's lien.

1910, ch. 336, sec. 20 (p. 38).

20. If more than one person claims the title or possession of goods,
the carrier may require all known claimants to interplead, either as a
defense to an action brought against him for non-delivery of the goods,
or as an original suit, whichever is appropriate.

1910. ch. 336, sec. 21 (p. 38).

21. If some other than the consignee or person in possession of the
bill has a claim to the title or possession of the goods, and the carrier
has information of such claim, the carrier shall be excused from liabil-
ity for refusing to deliver the goods either to the consignee or person
in possession of the bill, or to the adverse claimant, until the carrier
has had a reasonable time to ascertain the validity of the adverse claim
or to bring legal proceedings to compel all claimants to interplead.

1910. ch. 336. sec. 22 (p. 38).

22. Except as provided in the two preceding sections and in section
12, no right or title of a third person, unless enforced by legal process,
shall be a defense to an action brought by the consignee of a non-
negotiable bill or by the holder of a negotiable bill against the carrier
for failure to deliver the goods on demand.

1910, ch. 336, sec. 23 (p. 38).

23. If a bill of lading has been issued by a carrier, or on his
behalf by an agent or employee, the scope of whose actual or apparent
authority includes the issuing of bills of lading, the carrier shall be
liable to—

A. The consignee named in a non-negotiable bill: or

B. The holder of a negotiable bill,

Who has given value in good faith, relying upon the description
therein of the goods, for damages caused by the non-receipt by the car-
rier, or a connecting carrier, of all or part of the goods, or their failure
to correspond with the description thereof in the bill at the time of its
issue.

If, however, the goods are described in a bill merely by a statement
of marks or labels upon them or upon packages containing them, or by
a statement that the goods are said to be goods of a certain kind or
quantity, or in a certain condition, or it is stated in the bill that
packages are said to contain goods of a certain kind or quantity, or in
a certain condition, or that the contents or condition of the contents of
packages are unknown, or words of like import are contained in the
bill, such statements, if true, shall not make liable the carrier issuing
the bill, although the goods are not of the kind or quantity, or in the
condition which the marks or labels upon them indicate, or of the
kind or quantity or in the condition they were said to be by the con-