New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-12
SL0CUM INDICTMENTS.
THREE SAID TO BE OUT.
Many Life PreserUers Rejected in
Steamer Reinspections.

When the Federal grand jury. which mas been
considering the Slocum case. adjourned yester-
day afternoon after hearing the last of the
witnesses summoned true bills had been found
against three persons. according 10 a report
in the Federal Building. General Burnett. United
States District Attorney. would not say that
indictments had been found but he seemed
fairly cheerful. He refused to discuss the work
OF the grand jury. It will however. reassem-
Bile. probably next Tuesday, he said. to give it's
approval to the record CT it's dongs.
The indictments. 1t was rumored. found
against officers OF the Socum and those re
sponsible for the inspection OF that vessel.
Under the federal statute No. 6.S44 The navi-
eating officers of a steamer are responsible
for loss of life resulting from their negligence,
are the owner and the inspectors In this
statute their several duties are specifically out
lined. 1t was considered doubtful, however, by
the District Attorneys office that the direc-
tors Of the company could be held Individually.
even IL the company. owner of the boat. was
responsible for the accident and liable
under the statute. Another report had it that
indictments would be found against all those
held responsible by the coroner's jury and that
the prosecutor would be left to fight against
the company's lawyers the question of the LA
bility of the directors.
Because of the length and complicated struot
of federal indictments II takes about 4
week to prepare ther.l. Captain William $. Ball.
Assistant United States District Attorney who
Is an authority the drawing of federal in
dictmenLy. would naturally draw the indictments
against the people held for the Socum disaster.
and it Is considered significant that General
Burnett has called the grand jury to reassenlb!s
at just the proper time for the completion Of in
dictments.
Among the witnesses yesterday were Patrol
man Collins. OF the Alexander-ave. station. who
went out to the burning vessel in a launch and
aided greatly in the work OF the rescue r.
Fitzgerald, deckhand. and Henry George a
colored porter OF the One hundred and -thicty
ninth-st ferry.
Miss Hall. the bookkeeper of the KnIckecboclIer
Steamboat Company has not been found yet.
although her lawyer promised to produce he-.
corps Of subpoena servers hunted for her in
various places. including tho Oranges. most Of
Connecticut and Pittsfeld. Mass
Brandow. the assistant engineer of the Slo
cum. testified before the inspectors yesterday in
their investigation. He brought from the
House OF Detention where he is being kept by
order OF Coroner Berry. Hc told OF how he
stayed by the engines until tho Slocum wao
beacheG- He had not seen a fire drill on the ve5-
sci this season.
Captain William HnIery. OF the tug Golden
the aid Of the Slocun. He ran his tug up
alongside the burning vessel and took Off three
loads ee th- p sew era
Captain Pease. OF the Grand Republic. was ex-
pected 10 testify yesterday. but he could not be
served with a subpoena. Therefore the inspec-
tors sent out a subpoena by the United States
marshas, and expect TO have the captain some
other dag.
Two more inspectors reached town yesterday
10 aid In tie reinspectiOC OF passenger boats
Robert T. Murray and Felix Smith OF Galveston
Five steamers were scheduled for reinspeCtiou
yesterday. The Edmund Butler was inspected
by Inspectors Lowden and Nolan. who made
the first rcinspect!on. Assigned to the Angler
fishing boats lay at East Twenty -second-st. The
Angler IN excellent condition. the iHspec-
tors found. There were forty three NE pre-
servers rejected after severe tests, but as the
boat carried many more than the law required
the inspectors We're satisfied. OF the 1900 life
preservers on the Edmund Butler. eighty-three
were rejected. The boat required TO carry
only $50 Fire drills were held on both boats
The Richard Borden inspected AT Newark
by Inspectors Taylor and o Brien. The CygnuS
ard the Sirius. which lay at Erie Basin, were in
spected by inspectors Stewart and Van Lew ana
Todd and Nolan, respectively.
Z. S. Rode, supervising inspector OF the Sec
ond Inspection District. and Herbert Knox
Smith OF the federal commission appointed TO
inquire into the SIocum disaster. visited the An
gler while the work OF inspection was going on.
and worked with Inspector Shaw. Mr.. Shaw
made exhaustive tests with the life preSerVers.
testing them as to tho quality of the granu-
laCed cork they contained: also as TO the buoy
ancy Of the life preservers.