THE FLORA DISASTER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10241, 2 September 1909, Page 2

THE FLORA DISASTER.

CAPTAIN DO WD ACQUITTED. (Per Press \ " ' 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 J rederick Clarke. The facts in connection with this case, were brought out very 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. He left 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 was swamped, and sank, and one' of the crew of three —a man named Clarke — was. drowned. The finding of the nautical inquiry was that the boat was overloaded. As soon as that finding was declared Dowd was arrested, and charged with manslaughter. After hearing 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. The captain, however, could be held ( guilty of nothing more than an error" of judgment. Accused was accordingly acquitted.