CRIMINAL TRIAL

CIVIL TRIALS

FINAL DECISION
Although there were many discrepancies in information as related by the crew, passengers, and eyewitnesses, a federal court found the crew and officers not guilty. Many accounts of the state and civil prosecutions exist, and anyone who is interested in this portion of the story may find these useful in further assessing the results of the disaster. But, simply put, the final outcome of court action came with the decision of the U. S. Appeals Court in August of 1935, as reported by the Associated Press:

"Chicago, Aug. 7.--(AP)--The United States Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a District Court ruling that the St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Co. . . . is not liable for the. . .deaths in the disaster.

"The court held that the company was liable only to the extent of the salvage of the vessel; that the boat was seaworthy; that the operators had taken proper precautions and that the responsibility was traced to an engineer who neglected to fill the ballast tanks properly."