THE FLORA DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 17

THE FLORA DISASTER.

captain" dowd acquitted. AUCKLAND, September 1. At the Police Court to-day Thomas Dowd was charged that, on July 2, 1909, he committed manslaughter by causing the death of one Frederick Clarke. The facts in connection with this case were brought out \ery fully at the nautical inquiry into the sinking of the scow Flora on the day mentioned in the charge. Accused was master of a scow trading in shingle between Waiheke and Auckland. Ha left Waiheke that afternoon with a load of shingle, and on arrival at Auckland anchored off the railway wharf. A heavy storm got up in the night, and the boat waj swamped, and sank, and one of the crew of three — a man named Clarke — V.&& droivned. The finding of the nautical inquiry was that the boat was over- , loaded. As soon as that finding was de- , clared Dowd was arrested, and charged with manslaughter. i After liearing the evidence, the bench | decided that there was no evidence which ( would justify a jury in finding accused : [guilty of homicide. It expressed the ' opinion that he had used every possible \ precaution, but the boat might have been \ laden more heavily than was advisable. f The captain, however, could be held ] guilty of nothing more than an error of | judgment. Accused wa*> accordingly i acquitted. i 1