Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-12-01

THE LIFE OF RAILROAD CONDUCTOR
Joseph s. M. Gibson, u conductor on the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad, was arrested
last week by Detective Joshua Taggart, Of
the Mayors Police, charged with embezzle-
ment, in having retained in his possession
certain fares which he had collected on the
road. Mr.. Gibson had a hearing before Al
derman Ogle, before whom one of the rail-
road officers had made the necessary affidavit,
charging him with peculuting 10 a large
amount through several months. Upon the
preliminary hearing the alderman fixed the
bail at 10000, in default OF which the de-
fendant was committed to prison. Mr.. Kan
aga, of the Girard House, entered the requi,
red security, and Mr.. Gibson was released.
Although but one arrest WAS made as
above indicated, the Company has been con-
vinced that for months past it bad been the
victim of systematic and gigantic fraud,
by means Of which the treasury has been
robbed to the extent of thousands of dollars
The Pennsylvania Central Railroad and its
various branches have been the scene ofthese
r0bberies, until at last the officers could M
longer close their eyes to what was so plain
to all the rest of the community.
To Pinkerton's Chicago detectives was
entrusted the duty of discovering the frauds
their nature, extent, and the guilty parties
1t is understood THAT for months they have
beer engaged in the labor. Day after day
night after night, the conductors on the
Pennsylvania Central snd its branches, par.
ticnlarly the Philadelphia and Fire road
have been closely watched, and their every
movement noted. Their haunts have been
discovered, their habits and expenditures
reported, and other means taken to Fix upor
the right parties the crime. All the expe
dients resorted to it would not be proper t6
give to the public. Suffice it to say thai
every train carried one or more of the dettc
tives, male or female, until at last everything
was reduced, in police parlance, to "very fine
points" Every fare paid, and the amount
the station, the distance travelled were al
accurately marked and prepared.
| Upon the reports Of Mr. PInkerton's agents
the Company acted. The majority Of th,
conductors on the Pennsy lvania Central hav,
been relieved from DUTY pending the inves
tigation, while every conductor on the Phil
adelphia and Erie road, now under the con
troll of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has been placed in the same position. Al
an earnest of the Company's intention e
deal rigicly with the offenders, Mr. Gibson
was arrested, the prosecution designing q
bring all the parties in turn to justice. Mr.
Gibson was engaged on the main road, and
the extent to which he is supposed to have
been guilty may be inferred from the amount
OF bail demanded upon primary hearing
1t is suspected that the conductors who art
implicated in these pecuiations have seour,
anchor to windward.
Every conductor, before entering upon the
discharge Of his duties, is now required tc
give bond 10 $4,000, conditioned for the
faithful discharge of the trust imposed upon
him. This will prove some protection t.
the company, % In every case the bond will
be sued out, In order 10 make good, ss fsl
- possibls, tie psculatiops Of the parties.
ln view Of the Wholesale suspensions, the
Company has selected from among its sm.
ployees the most reliable TO take the places
OF those who must nov sbrnit TO sn invssti.
CATION. Conductors on freight trsips good
men. have been put In charge Of passengei
endeavorina to reward thoss Who have been
] faithfnl- PAiiaielpkis UniteS So Go.1ttx