Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-29
Federal Grand Jury to Re
port Excursion Ship I'm
properly Manned.
VIOLATION UNDER
SIX SECTIONS
Federal ofneials 90 Mako Sweeping
Charges Against Those Responsible
For horros-eeaAs Grand Jury Con-
vsnss and Rsesivss Report Of Grand
Jury Recommending Indictment Of
Officers, ownsss and inspectors.

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forts to place the responsibility for the
capsizing OF the Eastland in the Chi
cago river last Saturday got under
way today with tho convening Of the
federal grand jury and opening OF the
investigation by the steamboat In
spection service under direction OF
Secretary Of Commerce Redheld.
Plans for both Of these INQUIRIES were
finished at conferences lasting nearly
all night.
United States District Attorney
Charles F. Clyne. with Ave Of his as
sistants, and Hinton @. Claybaugh,
chief Of the bureau Of investigation.
went over the evidence that Is to be
presented to the grand jury and Sc
iected the witnesses who will be pre-
sented. Among the first witnesses will
be VILLAIN II. Hull, general manager
OF the company owning the boat. who
arrived in Chicago this morning in re-
sponse to subpoena. indictments
based upon six sections Of the federal
laws are planned. 1t was given out
after the conference.
Crew inexperienced.
Ono of the points to be laid before
the Jury 10 the competency OF the crew
OF the Eastland. reports Of invests
gators indicating that many OF the
crew were unfamiliar with nautical
work, that they were at q loss to take
an order and carry 1t out. Evidence
supporting . charge Of negligence also
viii be presented to the jury.
The 6rst witnesses called before the
steamboat Inspection service investiga-
tion were Captain wescott, supervisor
.of inspection for this district and In
epectors Eckliss and Reid. Of Grand
Haven.
The county grand Jury. which was
adjourned yesterday following con-
ference between Secretary Redfield and
State Attorney Hoyne, was reconvened
today and the report of Sthe coroner's
Jury recommending that SIX persons be
held, was laid before 1t.
Coroner Holds Six.
A charge Of manslaughter was rec
commended by the coroners jury
against the following:
william Hull. general manager OF
che company owning tho Eastland.
Harry Petersen. captain Of the East
land.
the Eastland.
Walter K. Gfeenbaum. general man.
ager Of the Indiana Transportation
Company. which chartered the boat.
Robert Rein and Charles Eckliss,
steamboat inspectors at Grand Haven.
Mich.
The fury said that the Eastland was
"both Improperly constructed for the
service employed and improperly
loaded. operated and maintained, and
that the parties named are respons-
ible.'
An investigation Of the circumstances
Of the construction Of the boat was
recommended to ASCERTAIN Il there can
be found legal methods by which those
responsible for its defects in construc-
ton can be held accountable.
Passengers Not 70 Blame.
The Jury found that the passengers
were not in any way to blame for the
capsizing Of the ship. It recommends
.urther Investigation to determine
whether the men named and others
may be guilty Of negligence or Of con-
tributing in any way to the cause OF
the disaster.
The six jurors selected by Coroner
peter Hoffman to hold the inquest on
the victims Of the Eastland catastrophe
were: DR.. w. A. Evans. formerly
health commissioner Colonel Henry
~ Allen. consulting engineer; Harry
Moir. hotel proprietor; J.. s.. Keough
coffee merchant; Eugene Beifeld, hote
manager; w. F. Bode. wholesale grocer
The Jury's Verdict.
After starting with the recommenda.
sion that the men named ''be held Il
fhe Grand Jury on q charge Of man.
slaughter and for such other offenses a
fha facts may warrant" the verdict
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