Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-03
JURY'S REPORT
In the North Sea Incl
dent at Hull.
Men Killed by Shots from
Russian Vessels
I. c;.t Of the Findings Made, Wednes'
day.

Hull, England. Nov. nat
r:.orpe Henry Smith and William Leg
pott were. at about 1870 a. m, on &c
toher % while out fishing with travis,
aboard of trade marks exhibited ana
regulation lights burning. kiiieu ny
shots ,ired without warning or provo
cation from certain Russian war YES
sells at a distance of about quarter
of a mile"
This is the text of the jury's verdict
AZ the coroner's inquest on the fisher
men victims Of the North sea Tragedy.
AT the request Of the British govern
ment. represented by the Earl nt
DIsart solicitor of the treasury, thlS
conservative. award was rendered by
tho FIRST court Of inquiry preceding the
sessions of the International trlbunal.
The government asked the jury not 10
find a verdict Of wiful murder or man
daughter because ''dclIcate negOtia-
tions are going on, which should not
he made more difficult and they ought
not to let anyone think they had pre-
JUDGED the case before having heard
both sides"
In consequence the. jury simply set
forth the facts proved by the evidence
of physicians, experts Oh explosives ana
the trawlers. themselves.
To the verdict the jury added the l"i-
lowing rider:
ION this occasion. probably the most
momeutous il tn. annals Of the Brit
ish empire the jury would record their
appreciation of the efforts made py
the governments interested to arrive AZ
a satisfactory conclusion of the mat
ter. which we feel has 10 parallel IN
the history Of the world
81 Georges nall. a large auditorium,
which had been specially fitted up for
{he occasion was quite Inadequate to
accommodate the crowds that wished
10 listen to the evidence. The interest
was intense. and there was some eX-
element, but no demonstration oc-
CURED A great number OF people
gathered in the vicinity of the building
to await the verdict and the space m
side the hall was filled.
The british government. the BOARD
of Trade the officers of the Gamccock
feet and the relatives of the deceased
and wounded fishermen We're reported
bv counsel; but the Russian govern
mont did not participate. The proceed
ings occupied only about three hours.
The testimony consisted OF medical eN-
idence by which it was proved that the
death of Smith and Leggett was the re-
suit of shell AMI machine gun wounds
then an expert identified fragments OF
shells by private marks. which ne
said were undoubtedly Russian: and
the stories of captains and mates of the
tr1wlers.
These latter related that while they
were engaged in their regular work
the ships Of the Baltic fleet in two
uuadrons. emerged suddenly from the
huze and throwing the glare of their
..,rcblirhts OF the GameCOCk fleet,
without warning and disregarding flare
and green lights. the tishermen's sig
nal and though within actual speaking
distance of one vessel commenced a
cannonading which the fishermen ~
first. not realizing the danger. enl"Ned.
thinking it was sham hght. Inc M
ing lasted half an hour.
To each of these witnesses was pu'
the vital question regarding the pres
enc,, of a foreign vessel or torpen'
boat Each with equal positiveness
denied that at any time preceding Oh
during the firing was Il japanese. BRIT
ish of any foreign vessel seen o!
them or the accompanying fishing Meet
II was also stated that there were nc
Japanese among the crews and that
none of the trawlers carried arms "f
any description. one Of the shippers
replying 10 IA question by the coroner
said that during the five weeks he was
In the North Sea he had not seen any
warships until that night.
This closed the evidence. Council
for the treasury then made the sug-
gestion with regard to the nature OF
the verdict with which the coroner
agreed and without delay it was so re-
turned with an added expression OF
sympathy for the relatives and friends
Of the dead and injured and of appre-
citation of the calm and courageous
manner in which the fishing fleet re-
manned at its duties after the terrible
experience.