New-York tribune., 1904-10-23
RELEASE THE ALLANTON.
AdmHaIty Council AnnuIs Prize
Courts Decision.

ST. Petersburg Oct. 22.-The Admiralty Coun-
Gil, sitting as a supreme prize court, to-day an
nulled the judgment Of the Vladivostok prize
court iii the case Of the British steamer Allan
ton seized on June 16 by the Vladivostok squad
ron. and her cargo. She will be released forth
with The council. however held that the sus-
picions entertained justified the arrest OF the
steamer.
The council assembled at the Admiralty at
o'clock this afternoon. Vice-Admiral Avellan.
head Of the Admiralty Department presided.
The other members present were four admiTals.
Professor de Martens. representing the Foreign
Office and two Senators. Among those in the
court was Lieutenant Petroff. Of the armored
cruiser Rossia. who brought the Allanton into
vladivostok. In the fight with Vice-Admral
Kamimura Petrof received twenty-five wounds.
and now uses a stick. but otherwise he has re-
covered from his wounds Mr.. Sheftal the bar
rister who had previously submitted a state
ment covering every phase of the case. present
ed a letter from the American Embassy in Lon
don. showing that the court erred in holding
that passport or certificate Of completion OF
military service was required from Japanese on
arrival in America. and therefore the conclusion
was unwarraEted that the absence Of such GER
tifcate in the case of the japanese youth
board the Allanton. who declared he going
TO America, was a suspicious circumstance or
was calculated TO arouse suspicion that the ship
was carrying contraband.
The proceedings were purely formal After
recital OF all the circumstances by the secre-
tary OF the court, the Acting Procurator OF
the Admiralty delivered address. in which
he said that after thoroughly weighing the evil
dence although some of the questions involved
were debatabIe, the condemnation of the Allan
toms cargo could not be upheld AT the same
time. the circumstances were such as to justify
the arrest of the ship This last statement was
denied by Mr.. Sheftall who in his address went
over the ground already covered in his written
statement
After some questions from the Judge regard
ing ownership and other points. the court was
cleared while the council deliberated for an
hour and & half Afterward Vice-Admiral
AvelIan announced the decision. The question
of damages was not raised, and q claim will be-
presented later through the proper channels.
The British steamer Allanton. owned by r.
". Rae. of Glasgow. was captured by the Via
divostok squadron while proceeding south with
a cargo of sixty-flve hundred tons Of coal from
the port Of Mourorun. Island of Hokkaido for
Singapore. She arrived at VIadivostok on June
20. The Vladivostok prize court condemned the
steamer on June - for carrying contraband of
and conhscated the ship and her cargo.
valued at 100000. Mr.. Rea wrote letter 10
the British newspapers on August Do in which
he declared that the vessel was Illegally seized
while carrying coal from Japan to Singapore.
The Vladivostok prize court he added decided
that the Allanton. having once carried contra
band. liable to condemnation il she was
afterward seized and against this decision the
company appealed.