The Irish standard., 1904-07-02
SLOCUN'S owners
AND CREW Held
CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL RE-
SPONSIBILITY IN CONNEC-
TON WITH DISASTER.
WARRANTS ARE ISSUED
FOR THEIR ARREST
Several Are Released on Bail-Coron-
er's Jury Concludes Investigation
and Renders a Verdict-Federal
Body to Take Up Matter.

BODY TO rake Up Matter.
New York, June 30.--The inquiry
conducted by Coroner Berry and jury
into the General Slocum disaster was
concluded Tuesday, and after nearly
four hours deiberation a verdict was
rendered in which the directors of the
knickerbocker Steamboat company,
the captain of the Slocum, Capt, Pease,
the commodore of the companys fleet,
and others were held criminally re-
sponsible. Warrants for their arrest
were issued. The mate of the Slocum,
according to the jury, acted in cow
ardly manner and the misconduct Of
Steamboat Inspector Lundberg, it is
recommended, should be brought to the
attention of the federal authorities.
The charge in each case was man.
slaughter in the second degree. Bail
was fixed by the coroner in amounts
varying from 81 900 to $1,000.
The directors of the company are:
Frank a. Barnaby. president; Charles
E. Hill, vice president; James X. At
kinson. secretary and G. DeLacey Ev-
ans, Robert X. Story, Floyd S. Cor
bin and Frank G. Dexter.
Main Points in Verdict.
The main points in the verdict are
as follows:
THAT the president, Frank A. Bar
naby; the secretary. James X. Atkin-
son, and the board of directors of the
knickerbocker Steamboat company,
namely, Frank A. Barnaby, Charles L.
Hill, James X Atkinson, c. Delacey
Evans. Robert X. Story. Floyd S. Cor
bin and Frank G. Dexter, were guilty
OF criminal negligence in the failure
to see to the proper equipment of the
General Slocum in the matter of the
on board said boat
Captain Is Blamed.
THAT the captain, William II. Van
Setback be held criminally responsible
Tor the accident.
That the captain, John A. Peaso,
the acknowledged commodore of the
fleet, be held criminally responsible for
his failure to properly equip the Cen
cral Slocum with fire-ightng and life
saving appliances
That Edward Flanagan. the mate.
acted in a cowardly manner, and we
recommend that he be held criminally
responsible for failure to perform his
duty on the General Slocum on the day
of the disaster.
THAT i'll the opinion OF this jury the
misconduct of Henry Lundberg. the
government inspector. in failing to re-
port to his Superiors the true facts
concerning the vessels fire eXtinguish-
ing and lifc-savns equipment, should
be brought to the notice of the United
States prosecuting officials, and we
further hold that said Henry Lunrberg
be held for criminal negligence by rea-
son Of his Incompetence, careless and
indifferent inspection of the General
Slocum's hull and lile-saving appli-
ances ON the 5th day of May, 1904.
Inspection System Lax.
'The jury are also OF the opinion
that The system OF inspection which
prevails in the harbors of New York
is very inefficient and does not proper
ly determine whether the ife-saving
apparatus and fire appliances OH the
vessels in this narbor are in propcr
and suitable condition to prevent the
loss OF life, and we recommend TO the
secretary OF commerce and labor that
he issue such instructions to The su-
pervisns and local force of inspectors
as VIII cause them 10 efficiently and
honestly examine the steamboats, ply
ing in and about this harbor."
Federal Jury to Investigate.
Through an agreement between
United States District Attorney Burnett
and District Attorney Jerome the cases
OF the persons named by the coroner's
jury as being responsible for the Cen
eral Slocum disaster will be presented
to the federal grand jury. Gen. Burnett
said the evidence adduced at the coro-
ner's inquest would be placed before the
federal body THURSDAY and that hid
would take personal charge of the mat.
ter. Mr.. Jerome said he had placed the
matter in Cen EurnGtt's hands because
there was doubt as to the jurisdiction OF
the county court Several directors OF
the knicktrbUche Steamboat company.
all OF whom are charged with response.
bility for the Slocum horror, Wednes-
day surrendered! To Coroner Berry and
were admitted to hail TO await the action
of the grand jury.