[Typewritten, on hotel stationery from the St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco. Witnessed by K. Dannemeyer. Dated 12 March 1927. In McCausland's working file, folder marked: TIMMONS — ON RECORD — DO NOT LOSE.]
Statement of John Arthur Timmons Formerly cabin steward, S.S. Iphigenia, Hume Shipping Company. Now employed at the Savoy Hotel, Powell Street, San Francisco, California. Given freely, to T. McCausland, reporter, Port Hume Clarion. Witnessed: K. Dannemeyer. San Francisco, 12 March 1927.
I was cabin steward on the Iphigenia from February to November of 1912. I was twenty-three years old. It was my first berth at sea.
On the voyage of the fifth through the seventh of November, 1912, I attended Captain Raleigh Hume in his cabin on five occasions. I brought him whisky at supper on the fifth. A brandy late that night. Nothing but coffee at breakfast on the sixth. A whisky at seven in the evening of the sixth. A brandy at ten that night, when he rang for it.
At ten o'clock, when I brought him the brandy, he was sitting at his chart table. His collar was open. He was saying something under his breath. When I set the glass down he said: I should have taken the north like the Irishman said. I didn't. That's my bed. Then he said thank you and sent me out. Those are his exact words. I have given them to a coroner's clerk and I am giving them to you and the words have not changed in fifteen years because they are the words he said.
I signed a deposition for the Coroner's clerk on the fourth of January, 1913. I told the truth in it. It was not read at the inquest. I was told by counsel for the Company that my position with the Company and payment for the voyage were contingent on my saying nothing in open session. I complied. I was twenty-three years old and I complied.
I was paid one hundred and twenty dollars in January of 1913, and given a train ticket to San Francisco. I was told a second payment of one hundred dollars would follow when I had been gone thirty days and had not spoken to any newspaper. The second payment came. I did not speak.
I have thought about this for fourteen years. I do not know how to account for the dead except to say what I saw. I saw what I have said above.
I am willing to be named. I am willing to repeat this in court. I am willing to do whatever a man my age can do who signed a piece of paper he should not have signed when he was twenty-three years old.
[signed] John Arthur Timmons 12 March 1927, San Francisco, California
[Witnessed:] Klaus Dannemeyer
[McCausland's note:] He shook my hand after. He said: your father was a good man. I said I know. He said: so was the captain, before. That surprised me.