New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-01
SUBPGNAS IGNORED
BY TITANIC OFFICERS
Ismay Also Leaves Washington,
Despite Summons Issued in
First Damage Suit.
ACT ON COUNSEL'S ADVICE
Managing Director Pleased with
Conduct of Investigation,
Except Hints of Re-
insurance.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. April 3O-While deputy
marshals we're scurrying around Washing
ton looking for him. J. Bruce Ismay. man
sger Of the international Mercantile
Marine Company. left for New York this
afternoon. ignoring a subpoena 20 appear
tefore special examiner and give testi-
nony 10 be used I'm a prospective suit for
damages TO be filed in Admiralty Court
against the Oceanic Steam Navigation
Company, owning corporation Of the IT,
tanic. by Mrs. Louise Robins. widow Of
George Robins, the valet Of John Jacob
Aston who was victim OF the Titanic dis
aster.
Joseph G.. Boxhall. Charles H. IAshtoller
and Frederick Fleet, the first two officers
and tho latter a lookout on the Titanic,
also failed TO respond TO subpGnas In the
civil action, going to New York on advice
Of counsel. Fleet left last night. soon after
10 was served. while the others We IT this
afternoon. Immediately following the scrv-
ice OF n forthwith subpoena by d deputy
marshal at the Union Station. Harold 8.
Bride the second wireless operator on the
Titanic left early to-day, before he was
located by the officers.
we're sought late this afternoon. when 1t
became known that they intended 10 leave
Washington. but a judge Of the District
Supreme Court could not be found TO issue
them In time
Possibility of contempt Of court charger
against the men and their counsel was sug-
gested by Benjamin Micou. an attorney.
who represented Mrs. Robins but 1t was
discovered that the intended witnesses
were without the Jurisdiction Of the court,
and any contempt proceedings would be
futile.
Mr.. Mcou declared he would have been
satisfied had the men given bond for their
appearance NJ some future time.
u was stated that Mr.. Ismay vas adj
vised that immunity followed his appear
ance I'm Washington as a witness before
the Senate investigating committee, and
that the subpoena served on him was void.
being issued from the United States Court
sitting in admiralty. lio was served With
only one subpoena. but Boxhall and Iigh-
toller were summoned three different times.
Contempt proceedings are threatened
against the attorneys who advised the
men 10 leave Washington.
The suit against the owners of the IT,
tanic will be Instituted In New York. II
vas announced. The object in getting
suhprnas beforehand, as was set forth in
the petition. was that the witnesses wanted
would not be availabls at a future date, as
they intended to leave for England this
week
Negligence on the part of the owners OF
the sunken line will be made the basis for
&C. 9th In ha
fled in New York.
When Mr.. Ismay was asked about the
matter before he left he said:
Il plan To sail for England on Thursday
on the Adriatic," and added that ne would
~. in this country again in a few weeks
and his attorneys would keep in touch with
al legal affairs growing out Of the catas-
trophe.
J. Bruce Ismay. president of the Inter
national Mercantile Marine Company, ana
p A. 5. Franklin, vice-president OF the
White Star Line, arrived here at O'Clock
last night.
Mr.. Franklin was asked IL he had any
complaint TO make OF the conduct OK the
investigating committee In Washington
He said he had none. When the same
question was addressed to Mr.. lsnay. he
said:
'T am satisfied with the action of the
committee, but l must say ! was greatly
shocked by the question addressed to me
to-day regarding the reported attempt 10
reinsure the Titanic"
Roth MIR. Franklin and Mr.. Ismay said
that II their presence were deemed neces-
sary In Washington they would return at
any time suggested by the Senators
When Mr. Ismay was asked II any papers
in a suit for damages had been served on
him he returned an emphatic denial
Il have been served with no papers. and
no official announcement OF legal proceed
ints. either against me or against any
other officer Of the company or Of the IT,
tanic has been made 10 me. suggest that
n any one wishes 20 institute such suit
they may easily ind me by communicating
Nth birmingham, Montgomery K Beecher.
A. No q William street They can also
get whatever additional Information they
NAV desire about me at that address.
have no plans for the Immediate future.
NJ 7 can say is that | shall not sail for
England Tomorrow
Mr.. Ismay once moro retreatcd into the
car. hut before the "strong arms. who
Logan to act decidedly nervous, could close
IN. Mr. Franklin leaned from the door
again and said he had no knowledge u the
service Of papers I'm the Astor suit upon
lIghtoller or Boxhall, the second and hfth
officers Of the Titanic