On the 11th he, Colpoys, and Griffiths came ashore to be tried by a civil court for the death of a seaman who had died in hospital at Haslar; the court returned a verdict of justifiable homicide. The crew had been unwilling to let Bover leave the ship, but he had promised to return. Despite the urging of many of his colleagues he did so, being greeted with three cheers when he came back aboard and requested not to leave again.