Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-03

i The government asked the jury not to
find a verdict of willful murder or man
slaughter because delicate negotia-
tons are going on which should not
be made more difficult; and they
ought not to let anyone think they had
prejudged the case before having heard
both sides" In consequence the jury
SIMPLY set forth the facts proved by
the evidence Of physicians, experts on
explosives and the trilwlers them
selves.
To the verdict the Judge added the
following rider:
"On this occasion, probably the most
momentous In the annals OF the Brltlsn
empire, the jury would record their
appreciation Of the efforts made by the
governments interested to arrive at
satisfactory conclusion OF the matter,
which we feel has no parallel in the
history of the world
Interest is Intense.
st. Georges hail. large auditorium
which had been specially fitted up for
the occasion, was quite inadequate TO
accommodate the crowd that wished to
listen to the evidence. The interest was
lllGIlSS dlltl IISIG Wdo oolIlC C<NSiISAA'SA'e'
but no demonstration occurred. A great
number of people gathered in the vicin-
ity OF the building to await the ver-
dict, and the space inside the hall was
filed. The British government, the
board of trade, the owners of the Game
Cock fleet and the relatives of the de-
ceased and wounded fishermen We're
represented by counsel; but the Rus
sian government did not participate.
The proceedings occupied only about
three hours. The testimony consisted
Of medical evidence by which it was
proved that the death of Smith and
Leggett was the result Of shell. and
machine gun wounds; then an expert
Unidentified fragments OF shells by pri-
vate marks, which he said were UNI
doubtedly Russian, and the stories of
captains and mates of the trawlers
Were told. The latter related that
while they were engaged in their regu-
lar work the ships of the Baltic fleet
in two squadrons emerged suddenly
from the haze and, throwing the glare
of their searchlights OH the Game Cock
fleet, without warning and disregard
ing flare green lights, The fisherman's
speaking distance of one vessel, COM
menced a cannonade, which the fish
ermen, at first not realizing the dam
ger enjoyed, thinking it was sham
fight. The firing lasted half an
hour.
Vital Question is Put.
TO each of these witnesses was put
the vital question regarding the pres
ence of a foreign vessel or torpedo
boat. Each with equal positiveness
denied that at any time preceding or
during the firing was any Japanese,
British or any foreign vessel seen by
them or the accompanying fishing
fleet. 1t was also stated that there
were no Japanese among the crews
and that none of the trawlers carried
arms of any description. One of the
shippers replying to a question by the
coroner, said that during the five
weeks he was in the Northern Sea he
had not seen any warships until that
night. This closed the evidence.
Counsel for the treasury then made
the suggestion with regard to the ma
ture of the verdict, with which the
coroner agreed, and without delay it
was so returned, with an added ex-
preston of sympathy for the relatives
and friends of the dead and injured,
and of appreciation of the calm and
courageous manner in which the fish
ing fleet remained at it's duties after
the terrible experience"