Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-08
'Ga Il! ship" NOT LIABLE
plR ABANDONING VOYAGE
Neyli York Banks Lose Liticat ION
AGAINST North German Liner
GKronprInzcssin Ccc;lic.
CLAM sa,e4o,ooo DAMAGES
1eciHQn by Supreme Court OF United
b StAtes Determines Large Similar
CM1fns Against Score OF Other
German Vessels i'm America.

81 IBy Associated rressl
washington. May 7.-Scw York
bsnlA To-day lost their litigation in
the Supreme Court against the North
Gerniah liner Kronprinzessin Cecilie at
Boston. in which they claimed .22io. goo
damages for tailurc Of the vessel to de-
iivers gold bullion worth sll.oco,oco
shiphedsto England and France jus, a.
the Outbreaks of the war.
Thks ,Cecilic. the Supreme Court de-
cidediis not liable in damages to thu
shippers for turning back to America
in mlaocean and abandoning her vow
nEe. ~ The decision determines large
similar claims against a score OF other
Gcrnfs vessels in American ports.
Beehuse the Cecilie. known as the
gold ship" sailed with sl1.0oo.0Oo ~
gold Sfor England. when war appeared
imm inent. was warned in mid Atlantic
by Wireless and raced back to Far
Harbor, Ne. the banks claimed dam
ages for losses resulting from nom
delivery of tho gold.
That imminencc of war justified the
Cecilie's return to neutral waters TO
save.the vessel from British capture.
was .contcnded by the defense.
Many claims of great magnitude
| against other German vessels similarly
situated hinged upon the Supreme
Courts decision. Twenty-three ships
of the North German Lloyd. Ham burg
American and Hansa Lines either re-
turned to American ports refused
to sail with cargoes when war was
apparent.
CECILIE IN CUSTODY OF
BOSTON FEDERAL COURT
ssEhes Cecilie. pending the decision in
the present case. has been in custody
OF the Boston Federal Court. When
diplomatic relations with Germany
We're, severed. her German WAS
taken. off. and later intcrncd in Georgia
detention camps. IT WAS discovered
that before they lcf, the vessel her
machinery was damaged to the extent
of $4,000 under instructions from "a
member OF the German government Of
ficiRtsstan.''
In the lower courts. opinion regard
ing the Cecilie's liability to the New
y ork. banks was divided Federal Dis
trict Judge Hale, of Maine dismissed
their suit. holding that captain rolacli
had Information by wireless wurranting
+ rea sonnble apprehension of danger and
\ justifyinE his return to America Upon
appeal. the Federal circuit Court. by
+ nNiueu teh"h. reversed Judge liaic'S
Z ruiMg and sustained the banks claims
Judges Dodge and Bingham held tho
resStl liable, while Judge Putnam dis
scented.
The cecilie was ordered. by wireless.
+ by fhe North German Lloyd directors in
GciSnany To return to America. Judges
Dodge and Bingham held that, there
1ores captain Polack exercised no dis
! cretion. and that the shippers OF freight
litwcr6 entitled Ia damages for faiIurc TO
hnTe their "areocs delivered at London
Tho@hlls OF ladinE stipulated against
LIABILITY ""'asion"d "hy arrest aud re-
{ straint Of princes. rulers OF people
Tie Guaranty Trust Company claimed
*i,L93.coo damages. and tho National
Z CitG.Bank SAG, 00o. Their gold was
consigned to Plymouth and Chcrhour.
respectively
The Cccilic sailed from New York
July -. 1914. and when 1870 miles
from plymouth. on July 81 received
lhe-"ireless warning. She rushed back
i 10 america arriving safely at Ear llar-
Dor and later Was conveyed to Bos-
ton-s The vessel was built in 1907 mt
cost OF Si.5000o0, and was amon,.
theierman and Austrian craft subjec,
Ito Federal seizure when the United
States declared war. Federal bosses
sion. however. hasz;be eli suspend cd. sub
Jecta TO the claims. OF the New York
banks.
" decision against the vessel in
VOWED either her sale al auction to
SATISFY the claimants or giving OF a
bond, either by the owners or the
United States government
MOOSE MUST PAY DAMAGES
FOR INITIATION PROVING FATAL
BY refusing TO review Ala banla Cour,
proceedings, the Supreme Court today
putsinto effect DEGREES awarding SIS 900
: damages against the Supreme Lodge of
i the Loyal Order OF Moose for the death
OF Donald \. kenncy during Initiation
at the Birmingham. Ala. local lodge
kcnney% died after receiving an electric
shock from a branding board" TE,t
TINS feature was not a regular part Of
the, initiation, but impromptu horse