Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-30
shouted Mr.. Meyer excitedly.

ment!" shouted Mr.. Meyer excitedly.
HAS no bearing either. II he con-
cealed anything It was done after the
wreck and after your liability was
confirmed. It was not even barratry.
You must pay this insurance"
II will not bay it, will not. I will
fight you In der courts" Mr.. Meyer
stamped up and down the floor In his
excitement, then stopped with a tri-
umphant smile and shook his finger
into the face Of the attorney.
"And even II der concealment will
not vitiate der policy der fact that he
had a drunken man on lookout when
der Titan struck der iceberg will be
enough. Go ahead and sue. ! VIII not
bay. He was part owner"
"You have no witnesses to that ad-
mission" said the attorney. Mr.. Mey-
er looked around the group, and the
smile left his face.
captain Bryce was mistaken" said
Mr.. Austen. This man was drunk at
New York like others OF the crew.
But he was sober and competent when
on lookout. I discussed theories OF
navigation with him during his trick
on the bridge that night. and he spoke
intelligently."
But you yourself said not ten min
utes ago that this man was in state
Of delirium tremens up to der COLI
SION" said Mr.. Meyer.
what I said and what will adj
NIT under oath are two different
/ things" said the officer desperately.
II may have said anything under the
excitement or the moment when we
were accused Of such an infamous
crime. say now that John Rowland.
whatever may have been his condi-
ton on the preceding night. was So
Der and competent lookout at TIE .'me
of the wreck of the Titan"
THANK you" said Rowland dryly to
the first officer; then. looking 10 the
appealing face Of Mr. Meyer. he said:
~ do not think it vii! be necessary
to brand me before the world as an in.
ebriate In order to punish the company
and these men. Barratry. as | under
stand It. Is the unlawful act of q cap
tain or crew at sea. causing damage or
loss. and it only applies when the par
ties are purely employees. Did | TN.
derstand rightly that Captain Bryce
was part owner Of the Titan!"
Yes said Mr.. Meyer, 'he owns
ttock. and we insure against barratry.
But this man as part owner could not
fall back On it,
And an unlawful act" went oil
Rowland. "perpetrated by a captain
who Is part owner which might cause
shipwreck and during the preparation
of which shpwreck really occurs will
be sufficient to void the policy"
Certainly" said Mr. Meyer eagerly.
'You were drunk on der !oolout-you
were raving drunk. as he said himself
You will swear to this. will you not.
my friend: II is bad faith with der
underwriters. 1t annuls der insurance
You admit this, Mr.. Thompson. do you
not?"
That is law" said the attorney
coldly.
WAS Mr.. Austen q part owner
nlso!' asked Rowland. ignoring Mr..
Meyers view OF the case.
Zone share. Ia 1t not. Mr.. Austen?"
asked Mr.. Meyer, while he rubbed bis
hands and smiled. Mr.. Austen made
no sign Of denial, and Rowland con-
tinued:
"Then for drugg!ng a sailor into
stupor and having him on lookout out
uf his turl while in that condition and
ut the moment when the Titan struck
the iceberg Captain Bryce and Mr..
Austen have as part owners commit
! ted an act which utilities the insur-
ance on that ship"
You inferno! lying scoundrel!' roar
cd Captain Bryce. He strobe toward
Rowland with threatening face. Half
way he was stopped by the impact Of
huge brown fist. which sent him
reeing and staggering across the room
toward Mr.. Selfrdge and the child.
over whom he tloundered to the floor
n disheveed heap. while the big Cap