New Britain herald., 1915-07-30
Government officials Might Have to Face Charges Ol Manslaugh-
 fer and Criminal CareleSsness
FEDERAL GRAND JURY EXAMINING WITNESSES

Divers and Naval Expert to Cheek Work of Divers Coming from
 Washington captain to Make 2 Tight to Prove Himself Innocent.
 Chicago, July 30. States Attorney Hoyne intimated at noon today that a humber of indictments charging man slaughter and criminal carelessness might be returned before the close of the day against persons held respon- sible for the steamer Eastland disaster, A3 in which more than thousand lives E were lost. It was said that several ! federal officials might be included in the list of those indicted despite the question raised concerning the juris- dfction of the state over federal of , ficers. s
 The July state grand jury must ad- 5 journ before midnight tomorrow, un- der the law and the states attorney is a anxious to have 1t conclude it's inyesti- gatIon of the Eastland horror today, < if possible .
 More Witnesses Examined.
 Additional witnesses were examined by the body during the afternoon. Tie special federal grand jury em- < panelled by Judge K. M. Landis to in-s vestieate the, Eastland disaster began the examination of witnesses e propose to investigate everybody TIT every circumstance connected m3th the wreck, as directed by the at < torney general and Judge I.andis.,' s said Charas F. Clyne; United States x7istrict attorney, who has charge of 5 the federal grand jury inNestig gation. Appeals to Mayor gi 's dofoher Hoffrnan today requested ayo Ehompson to employ two city divert md d naval expert to check the VVork M 10 divers, who are said to be cpmdhx here from Washington to ex- pt0re wreck of the Eastlands v HteSe 5 Htrt have reached the coroner that ' Secretary Redfeld ordered his aids to } tske charge of the Eastland and keep of every one not concerned with the I federal government until such time as the federal officials have completed their investigations.
 United States Marshal Bradley ap- peared at the E;astland shortly before noon today and announced that tie had been ordered by Judge Landis to seize the boat. He said he would not interefere with the work of rais- ing the boat. ,si M walter c. Steel, Secretary and Treasurer of the St. Joseph Chicago { Steamship company, owners of the Eastland, who was arrested yesterday on d charge of criminal carelessness, { in connection with the accident was released in $1,0OO bonds today and the case against him continued The reason for the seizure of the < Eastland under a federal writ of at { tachments. it was explained by gov ernment officials, was to prevent any person tampering with the ballast tanks, their valves or other mechan- ism until authorized government 7 agents have examined them.
 m Captain Protests Innocence.
 Captain Henry Pederson of the Eastland, declared at the county jail 5 hat he would make a fight to prove himself innocent.
 The responsibility is not mine,,' he said 1T often noticed the boat list, but it never was anything serious and I believed the engineer Knew his duties. I had certain duties to per- form and my power was limited to those. I carried out orders ro the best of my ability
 City officials today started an inves-
 
 senger vessel plying the lakes out of Chicago. The work is being done by subcommittee of the city council in conjunction with the engineering bureau and the harbor master.
 Reid Recalled to stand. When the inquiry which is being s conducted by Secretary Redfeld, into the causes of the Eastland disaster was resumed today Robert Reid, United States inspector or steamhoats, z with headquarters at Grand Haven, Michigan, was recalled to the stand
 Mir Reid was one of the six men ordered held by tho coroner's jury to the state grand jury and IS the father in law of J. M. Eriskson, chief en- gineer of the East1and, wno also was held to the grand jury. The witness x was examined by A. L. Thurman, so- licitor for the department of com nlerce. first saw the Eastland in the
 Chicago river in June, 1908" said In inspector. The boat was then al-
 lowed to carry three thousand pas 6 sengers. I think that certificate was
 in effect only during the season of 1906.
 First Inspection in 1914.
 Il made my first inspection of the Eastland at Grand Haven, Michigan,
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