Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-11
The Peculatien Of Pennsylvania Central
Railroad Employee.
From the Cincinnati Gazette

FROM the Cincinnati Gazette
We have already noticed the fact that a
Wholesale system of robbery, by certain con-
ductors and ticket agents on the PENNSYLVANIA
Central Railroad, had been suspected for sew
eral months past, and that general examina.
tiOn had taken place, resulting in the recovery
OF cash, stocks, &c., to a very considerable
amount-being the proceeds of tickets taken
up by conductors and returned to ticket agents
to be resold-together with daily appropria-
tons from cash collections by conductors on
trains. While at Columbus, on Tuesday, we
were informed by gentleman from Pittsburg
that this system of robbery had been in prac.
uce for over year past and that the chief
officers of the road had had suspicious all along
that they were being defrauded. but were un.
able to obtain any clew for months, although a
special detective had been on the / okout for
the guilty parties. The Vice-President, Mr..
Scott, had ascertaned that one conductor had
purchased a property in Philadeiphia, for
which he paid $l2, 900 cash He had no means
when he went on the road year or two pre.
vious. Another conductor was paying $500
rent, while his salary was but $3.50. These
and other men who were living beyond their
income were watched, but nothing wrong could
be detected. 1t was clear, however, that a
large amount of the cash collections were be-
ing withheld daily, and it is stated that as much
as 90 per cent of the amount collected by GER
tain conductors was retained. As the money
did not come in fast enough under this system,
combination was formed between some ten or
twelve conductors and some half dozen ticket
agents or sellers on the PENNSYLVANIA Central.
who were in league, it is believed, with similar
employees on other roads, direct connections of
the Pennsylvania Central, by which certain
amount of tickets taken up daily should not
be punched, as required, but should be returned
to the tickets agents to be resold.
Numerous plans and traps were devised and
zat 70 data har L.
week all had been failures. Men were at last
employed, who purchased tickets in Cincin-
natl and Columbus for Philadelphia These
tickets were privately marked, and the dsy
they were used, as well as the name of the
conductor, was reported to headquarters 1t
was found in several instances that these tick
cts, although used, were not reported for ten
days, and were of course resold.
A certain party in Pittsburg applied to the
ticket agent in that city, a week ago to know
if he would sell the Pittsburg and PhiIadel-
phia portion Of through Cincinnati coupons:
this led the ticket agent to suspect something
wrong, and before giving and answer he re-
ported the matter to headquarters. He was
then instructed to say to the party applying
to have tickets sold, that if he would bring
local tickets he would sell them for him, but
that he could not sell the coupons The result
was that local tickets were brought, and thus
the robbery was detected. Several suspect ted
parties were then questioned, as to their COM
plicity in the matter, some of whom plead
guilty and returned their ll-gotten property,
while guilt was fastened upon others.
The Vice President of the road, Mr.. Scott,
has been at Pittsburg for several days making
thorough investigation. We believe eight
conductors and four ticket agents have already
been suspended. They had regular officers in
Pittsburg, Harrisburg and Philadelphia and
were systematically organized. 1t is believed
that two or more conductors on the Pittsburp
and Fort Wayne road are implicated, and it is
feared that employees on the other Ohio roads
are equally guilty. What amount the Penn.
sylvanis Central has lost is not known, but we
have heard very large figures mentioned. The
result Of Mr. Scotts investigations will proba
bly, be made known before long