Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-30
JURY FIXES
THE BLAME
OFFICIALS OF kNicKERBockER
STEAMBOAT CO. AND sLo-
GUMS OFFICERS HELD.
SEVERAL ARRESTS MADE

The coronsr's Jury In Its Finding, Con.
demns the Steamboat Company and
the Officers of the Ship for Their
Nselect-Boat's Mate Called Coward.
New York, June 20. The inquiry
conducted by Coroner Berry and jury
into the General Slocum disaster was
concluded yesterday afternoon and
after nearly four hours deliberation.
verdict was rendered in which the
directors of the Knickerbocker Steam
boat company the captain of the Slo-
cum, Captain Pease the commodore of
the company's fleet, and others, were
held criminally responsible. Warrants
for their arrest were issued. The mate
of the Slocum according to the jury
acted in a cowardly manner and the
misconduct of Steamboat Inspector
Lundberg it was recommended, should
be brought to the attention of the fed
| eral authorities. The charge in each
case was manslaughter in the second
degree. Bail was fixed by the coroner
in amounts from $1,000 to $4,000 The
directors Of the company are: Frank
A. Barnaby. president; Charles e. Hill,
! vice president; James K. At
kinson, secretary, and G. DeLacey Ev.
ans, Robert K. Story, Floyd S. Corbin
and Frank G. Dexter. I,
Warrants Were Issued.
When the assistant district attorney
moved that the warrants be issued after
the verdict had been given Mr.. McMan.
us, counsel for the steamboat company
protested that such procedure was un
necessary as all OF the men were ready
to appear and give bail when called
for. The protest was of no avail.
4 The mate, Edward Flanagan, who
was under detention as witness was
4 the first arraigned. He pleaded moi
/ guilty and his bail was fixed at $1,000
4 No bondsmen being on hand he wa:
committed to Jail. 2,
a Inspector Ialndberg pleaded not gull
ty and was released on $1,000 bail.
Bail was fixed at $4,000 each fo
President Barnaby and Secretary AT
kinson and bonds were furnished a
once.
Several directors of the Knicker
booker Steamboat Co., all of whom
are charged with the responsibility fo
the Slocum horror, today surrendered
to the coroner and were admitted tt
bail to await the action of the grant
jury.
Captain a Prisoner In Hospital.
Captain Van Schaick Is a prisoner
in the Lebanon hospital. At the as
lcio ;s{r iot MI o1y1o h6
coroner committed the assistant en-
hands, Coakley and Trembly, as wit
, nesses, sending them to the house o
detention
Tho Jury's Findings.
After pointing out the duty of th'
different officers and persons nance
and their failure to perform their dut.
!. the jury finds:
"That the president, Frank A. Bar
naby, the secretary, James K. Atkin
son, and the board Of directors of tn
Knickerbocker Steamboat company
namely, Frank A. Barnaby, Chas. f
! Hill, James K. Atkinson, G. DeLace.
: Evans, Robert K. Story, Floyd S. Coz
bin and Frank G. Dexter, were guilt
of criminal negligence in the failur
to see to the proper equipment of tn
General Slocum in the matter of tn
fire fighting and life saving appliance
on board said boat.
"That the captain, William H. Val
Schaick, be held criminally respons
BILE for the accident
"That the captain, John A. Pease
the acknowledged commodore of tn
fleet, be held criminally responsible
y for his failure to properly equip tn
General Slocum with fire fighting an
life saving appliances.
Acted in Cowardly Manner.
"That Edward Flanagan, the mate
acted in O cowardly manner, and W.
. recommend that he be held criminall
responsible for failure to perform hi
duty On the General Slocum on the da
of the disaster.
"That in the opinion of this jury, tn
misconduct of Henry Lundberg, tn
government inspector, in failing to re
IS port to his superiors the true fact
G concerning the vessels fire extinguisf
S ing and life saving equipment, shoul
g be brought to the notice of the Unite
g States prosecuting officials, and W
q hold that said Henry Lundberg be hel
:. for criminal negligence by reason c
q his incompetent, careless and indiffel
/ ent inspection of the General Slocum
e hull and life saving appliances on til
y fifth day of May. 1904.
y Inspection Is Insufficient.
r 'The jury are also of the opinio
: that the system of inspection whic
T prevails in the harbor of New York
/ very insufficient and does not properl
determine whether the life saving al
tparatus and fire appliances on the vsi
sells IN this sharbor are in proper an
suitable condition to prevent the los
of life, and we recommend to the Sc,
4 retary of commerce and labor that b
: issue such Instructions to the supe
vising and local force of inspectors a