Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-29
Secretary RedfieId Presides at
Steamboat Inspectors
Civilian Tribunal.
FEDERAL GRAND JURY
ALSO TO INVESTIGATE
States Attorney Hoyne Considers
Observation-Disclosures Four Can
Be Indicted for Manslaughter.

CHICAGO, July 2o.-Exami
nation of witnesses in the inquiry
of the United States Department
of Commerce into the cause of
the Eastland disaster began here
today under the personal super
vision OF Secretary Redheld. Wit
nesses. including the officers and
crew of the steamer and a long
list of survivors. were sum-
moned to the federal building to
tell their versions of the catas-
trophe.
While this inquiry was pro-
crossing United States District
Attorney Charles F. Clyne pre-
pared to empane1 a federal grand
jury to investigate the question
of criminal responsibility for the
accident.
In the states attorneys Office
efforts were directed to determine
the extent of the jurisdiction Of
the state grand jury over the per-
sons held by the coroner's jury
for grand jury action.
State Can Indict Four.
Assistant States Attorney Edwin j.
Raber. in charge of the drawing of in
dictments. said today, after looking up
the law. that, in his opinion, indict-
ments on charges Of manslaughter, con-
spiracy or criminal carelessness could
be sustained against four of the six
persons ordered held by the coroner's
jury He was still investigating the
Jurisdiction of the grand jury over the
federal inspectors who were also Or
dered held by the coroners jury.
The four over whom the state grand
Jury has jurisdiction. in the opinion Of
ter X. Greenebaum, Capt. Harry Peder-
sen and Chief Engineer Joseph M
Erickson.
Mr.. Raber was not yet certain as to
the grand 1ury's Jurisdiction over Fed
eral Inspectors Robert Reid and
Charles c. Ecklin.
Visits the Eastland.
District Attorney Clyne visited the
Eastland and inspected the hulk for
the first time. He hinted that a num-
Der of well known excursion steamers
might have to come off the lake."
nf
state grand jury. United States Dis
trict Attorney Clyne said:
III any action against those respon-
sible is ordered by the state grand
jury we will demand the right to
enter proceedings against the two
steamboat inspectors and the boat cap
tain. named by the coroner's jury, in
advance of any action which may be
taken by the states attorney follow
ing indictments by the grand jury
These men are government officers, the
captain holding government license
ton. In all the proceedings, however.
the state will have the fullest CO.
operation from the government"
The Independent investigation order
ed by the city council was virtually
abandoned today on the advice of the
corporation counsel who held the opin-
ion that the Jurisdiction of the city did
not extend over vessel at the docks
Before adjourning the council COM
mittee which was to have Investigated
the cause of the Eastland disaster de-
cided to petition President Wilson to
appoint an investigating commission
to act independently of federal au-
thorities. The President was also pc
titioned to have the government make
a stability test of every excursion
vessel running out of Chicago.
Working on Eastland.
CHICAGO, July 29-The plan to raise
the Eastland with derricks was abandoned
today because Of the immense weight of
water within the hull. Work was begun
to seal the openings in the boat 80 that
the water might be pumped out and the
hull floated. The engineer in charge of
the work said that it would require sew
eral days.
Contributions to the Eastland relief
fund today reached s2So.0OO. according to
James Simpson, chairman of the relief
committee.
Headquarters for the American Red
Cross were established in the mayors
Office and preparations made to give
immediate relief to all in want because
of the river horror.
United States District Attorney F.
Clyne. with five of his assistants and
Hinton 6. Clabaugh. chief of the bu-
reau of investigation, went over the
evidence that Is to be presented to the
federal grand jury and selected the
witnesses who will be presented.
Among the first of these will be Will
liam H. Hull. general manager of the
company owning the Eastland, who ar
rived in Chicago this morning in re-
sponse to subpoena. Indictments
based upon the sections of the federal
laws are planned 1t was given out
after the conference.
Competency of Crew.
One of the points to be laid before the
federal grand jury is the competency
of the crew of the Eastland, reports of
investigators indicating that many OF
the members of the crew were unfa-
niliar with nautical work. Evidence
supporting a charge of negligence also
will be presented to the grand jury.
At the opening of the inquiry of the
Department of Commerce to determine
the amount of blame, IL any, to be
placed on federal steamboat inspect
ors Secretary Redfeld said:
This hearing is imperative under
the statutes of the United States. It
will be confined to the conduct of the
| licensed officers who had to do with the
not been ordered by any one. It takes