Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-19
TITANIC CLAIMS
DECREE CLOSES
ALL LITIGATION
New York Federal Judge Finds
No Negligence BY White
Star Line Officers
LIMITS ITS LIABILITY :.
TO SUM OF 100000
Court PerpetualIy Enioins New
Suits in ''Any Court of
r.. J.. Any Country"

NEW YORK.-Litigation involving
claims against the owners of the
steamship Titanic arising from its
sinking four years ago was ended re-
Gently when Judge Mayer in the ad.
miralty branch of the federal district
court signed decree granting the Pc
tition Of the White Star Line limiting
its liability. This decree, by extra
judicial agreement, will start the d.
vision of nearly 100000 claim money
among hundreds of claimants for large
amounts. ..... -. . ...
The decree declares the petitioner
is not liable to any extent for any
loss, damage, injury, destruction or IA
tally, or for any claim whatsoever in
any way resulting or arising from or
growing out of said collision and sink.
ing, and is free from all personal and
corporate liability and all debts,
claims and demands of whatsoever ma
ture resulting from the voyage of the
steamship Titanic, which began at
Southampton, April 10, 1872" -. Z.
No Negligence Found. III I'LL.
The decree also absolves officers of
the Oceanic Steam Navigation Com
pany, Ltd, from charges of negligence,
denies the right of any claimant not a
party to previous settlement agree.
ments to recover damages, and perpet-
ually enjoins and restraints any new
actions of any kind for Titanic dam
ages against the line "in any court
of any country or Jurisdiction.
Pursuant to the decree. Frank Fer
IL 80 hn Ipf ut
turned to Buckingham, Montgomery &
Beecher proctors in admiralty for the
White Star Line, s117,1O1.35, the
amount, less fees, deposited with the
court when the petition was filed.
This sum will be added to $666,000
deposited by the line with the New
York Trust Company, to be divided
pro rata among the claimants who
reached an agreement out Of court
several weeks ago with the steamship
company This division will award ap-
proximately q per cent on claims, to-
falling about $18 100000. i. +. Il.
When the claims we're entered in
1912 the company made its petition,
depositing the amount Of the passen-
ger and freight receipts for the fatal
voyage and the salvage on the vessel.
This was in accordance with a feder-
al statute which limits any steamship
companys liability to that equivalent
unless 1t is shown negligence contrib
uted to an accident. a& T. T.. ~
Claimants Consented to Decree.
At a hearing before Judge Mayer
last summer much evidence and testi.
mony was offered to show the acct
dent was due to negligence. While
Judge Mayer had his decision under
consideration representatives OF the
line and the claimants reached an
agreement by which the latter accept.
ed the pro rata dividend and consent.
ed to the entry of decree similar to
that signed yesterday, if agreeable
to Judge Mayer. 49,:
If the decree had adjudged the line
guilty of negligence the company
would have been liable to damages Of
several millions. ...s..=.
Relatives of many of the wealthiest
victims of the Titanic will not benefit
BY the division, having never filed
suits. Mrs. Henry b. Harris, widow
of the theatrical manager, it is under
stood, will receive the largest indi-
vidual award, $4,000. The families
of many steerage passengers will get
sums. .-: a.. =,