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Show "JOLLY BILL" HAS LOST IN COURT Xew York, June 24. The state court of appeals here has brought gloom to the hearts of many old sea-dogs sea-dogs up and down the Atlantic coast who know the lavish hospitality of Captain William Coonan of the Luckenbach fleet, the doan of all the coastwise skippers The court has Just reversed a verdict of $15,000 Which the captain obtained against the Hamburg-American line and which ho had proposed to spend in entertaining entertain-ing his friends. The verdict was the largest of Its kind on record. Captain Coonan, who waa affectionately affec-tionately known as "Jolly Bill," Is very wealthy. The foundation of his wealth Is said to have been a cacho of sunken treasure, a fund which he lncreasod by shrewd Investments. Whenever hlB ship casts anchor in . port, his friends promptly steer a course for the captain's wellstocked cabin. Last September, a Brooklyn jury awarded the captain $14,200 damages lor a slightly stiff knee, resulting from an accident on one of the Ham-Ibuxg-Amerlcan ships while the captain cap-tain was aboard on a casual visit to the chiefmate The cronies of "Jollv Bill" were hugely satisfied with this outcomo of his quest for treasure on dry land and they had pleasant vis-Ions vis-Ions of tho rousing celebration that would follow the receipt of the money. But the company's lawyer was not at all satisfied and he appoaled from the verdict as grossly excessive. The appellate court has now decided the caso in favor of the steamship company. |