Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-11-11
COR0NER'S JURY
REACHES VERDICT
Case of the Hall Fishermen Has
Been Thoroughly hives
tigated.
NO RUSSIANS PRESENT
The Inquest Mas Publicly Held and
Much Excitement Attended the
wing of Evidence During
the Sitting.

Hull, Eng. Nov. 4.-'That George
Henry Smith and William Leggett
were, about 1890 a. m, IN October %,
while out fishing with travis aboard
the British steam trawler Crane, with
hoard of trade marks exhibited and
Regulation lights burning. killed by
shots fired without warning or provo
cation from certain Russian war yes
sells at a distance of about a quarter OF
a mile"
This is the text of the iury's verdict
at the ~coroner's inquest on the victims
Of the North sea tragedy. At the re-
quest of the Russian government, rep
resented by The earl of Dysart, sole
itor Of the treasury, this conservative
award was rendered by h first court
OF inquiry preceding the sessions of the
international tribunal. The govern
ment told the jury not to find a verdict
of wilful murder or manslaughter, be-
cause delicate negotiations" are going
on which should not be made more diff
cult, and they ought not TO let anyone
think they had prejudiced h case be-
fore hearing both sides, !.
In the jury simply set
forth the facts as shown by the evil
dence OF physicians, experts on expo
isives and the trawlers themselves.
To the verdict was added the follow
Ing rider:
On this occasion. probably the most
,momentous in the annals of the British
lempire, the jury would record their ap-
lpreciation of the efforts made by the
government in interest to arrive at a
satisfactory conclusion of the matter.
(which, we feel, has no parallel in the
history of the world.
Was Publicly Held.
st. Georges hall, a large auditorium,
which had been especially fitted up for
1.-THE occasion, was quite inadequate to
accommodate the crowd that wished 10
listen to the evidence. The Interest
Swas intense, and there vas some ex-
lcitement, u no demonstration oc-
eurred. The British government, the
hoard OF trade, the owners OF the
Eamecock fleet and the relatives Of the
deceased and wounded fishermen were
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 1T was
proved that the death of Smith and
heggett was The result of shell and ma
chine gun wounds; then an EXPERT fden-
titled fragments of shells by private
marks, which he said were undoubted-
ny Russian and the stories OF captains
land mates of the trawiers. These lat
tier related meanwhile nat they We're
tengaged in their regular work. h
lships OF the Baltic fleet, In two squad
IRONS, emerged suddenly from the haze,
land throwing the glare of their search
lights on the Garnecock feet, without
warming, and d~isregarding the flare OF
lgreen lights, the ishermen's signal, and
Though within actual speaking distance
lof one vessel, commenced a cannonade,
(which the fishermen at first, not realiz-
ing the danger, enjoyed, thinking 1t
was a sham fight.
The firing lasted half an hour.
Stories Of Witnesses.
To each Of these witnesses was put
tthe vital question regarding the pres
lence of a foreign vessel or to~rpedoboat.
Each with equal -positiveness denied
that at any time preceding or during
the firing was any Japanese. British or
lany other foreign vessel seen by them,
lor the accompanying fishing feet. 1t
Twas also stated there were no Japanese
sanlong the crews, and that none OF
the trawlers carried arms OF any de-
lscription. One of the shippers reply
ing to a question by the coroner said
that during the five weeks he was in
1 the North sea he a not seen any war
4ships until that night.
This closed the evidence.
Counsel for the treasury then made
1.-THE suggestion with regard to the
mature of the verdict. with which the
k~corcner agreed, and without delay 1t
twas SO returned asith an added expres-
leion or sympathy for the relatives and
friends OF the dead and injured and of
appreciation of the calm and courage
sous manner In which the fishing feet
remained at it's duties after h terrible
Iexperience."