SIX MEN FOUND GUILTY FOR EASTLAND DISASTER

[Associated Press Dispatch] CHICAGO, July 28 -- The coroner's jury tonight returned a verdict placing the blame for the loss of hundreds of lives by the capsizing of the Eastland on six men: William Hull, general manager of the Chicago-St. Joseph Steamship company, owner of the Eastland; Captain Harry Pederson of the Eastland; J.M. Erickson, engineer; Robert Reed, the federal inspector who gave the Eastland a license to carry 2,500 passengers on July 2; J.C. Eckliff, federal inspector of steamships; W.K. Greenbaum, general manager of the Indiana Transportation company, lessee of the Eastland.

The jury recommended that the men be held to the grand jury for indictment for manslaughter. State's Attorney Hoyne announced tonight that as he probably had not sufficient jurisdiction he would turn over the evidence he had to United States District Attorney Clyne for presentation to the federal grand jury.

The jury found that the passengers were not in any way to blame for the capsizing of the ship. It recommended further investigation by the coroner, and other officers to determine whether the men named, or others may be guilty of negligence or contributing in any way to the cause of the disaster.

THE INQUIRY

CHICAGO, July 28 -- With the verdict all but formulated, according to the foreman, the coroner's jury, investigating the deaths of a thousand or more excursionists by the capsizing of the steamer Eastland in the Chicago river on Saturday, tonight called in Secretary of Commerce Redfield, Inspector-General Uhler of the steamboat inspection service and A.L. Thurman, special solicitor for the Department of Justice, for a private conference. After the officials were closeted with jurors more than two hours, the examination of the witnesses was resumed.

Awaiting the findings of the coroner's jury, the county grand jury adjourned until tomorrow without returning indictments. Investigation by the federal steamboat inspection service will start tomorrow.

After the conference with the coroner's jury, Mr. Redfield said he could not talk of what he told the jury. He said that Coroner Hoffman and the jurors had asked him, Thurman and Uhler regarding the usual procedure in the inspection of lake steamers, and of the duties of federal officers connected with granting a license to the Eastland to carry passengers.

"It suggested and considered whether there should not be some law regulating the inspection of steamboats as to stability," said Thurman. "It was pointed out to the jurors that no laws had yet been passed providing for that and that no appropriation was at hand to furnish a force to make such an inspection."

It had been arranged for the grand jury to finish its investigation tonight, and draw up indictments charging a half dozen persons with blame for the upsetting of the Eastland out as the coroner's inquest dragged into the night, this plan was abandoned. Half a dozen members of the Eastland's crew testified before the grand jury but added nothing, it is said, to the evidence adduced by the coroner.

Secretary Redfield tonight reiterated that nothing had yet been found to reflect on the federal inspection of steamships. He and Uhler said there was no provision under which the government could pass upon whether the design of a ship provided for a seaworthy vessel.

In connection with the federal inquiry two Chicago inspectors made soundings in the Chicago river around the Eastland, still lying on its side, half submerged. It was found that the maximum depth was 20 feet and the minimum 14 feet, 2 inches. It had been asserted by witnesses at the coroner's inquest that the possible cause of the ship's listing was mud on which the keel was pressed by the persons aboard.

Experts tonight said the Eastland should have floated freely in fourteen feet of water, but if it was shown that a bar caused the steamer to upset, the war department would be at fault, as that department was charged.