The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-19
Rights Of Passengers-"T The Fight of &
HAN with O RaiIrcad..'


The atlantic Monthly for December con-
tains an article written by Sir. John A.
Coleman, of Providence, Z. l., on his late
contest with tbs New York and New Haven
railroad The circumstances Of this contest,
decided few months ago by the courts of
Massachusetts ia Mr.. Coleman's favor, will
be- recalled by most newspaper readers.
About four years ago he purchased q ticket
from Providence TO New York uia Hart
ford and New Haven. Having been detained
at New Haven until it was too late to conve-
nently complete his journey by rail he came
to New York by steamboat. md SO had left
on bis hands the railway cOupon.ticket from
New Haven to New York. Not having oc-
casion to use the ticket between the
points and in the direction indicated
on Its face he kept it until June,
1868. One day in that month he applied
at the ticket office Of the New Haven rail-
road in Tweuty-seventh street for a ticket
to Boston via Springfield. This the agent
refused to sell unless nir. Coleman would
wait three hours for the train that left ut
O'Clock in the afternoon, although the latter
tod the hgclit that he desired TO stop over at
u way-station one trainsto do some telegraph
Ing. Dir. Coleman then thinking this good
Opportunity to use bis old coupon, presented
1 to the guard stationed at the entrance to
the cars. He met with rude and insolent
treatment, not only from the guard. but from
the conductor; both said that this ticket was
good for hot Thing" and the conductor Pc
reinptorily ordered Nj. Coleman not TO go
on board the cars, and said that II he at
tempted it he would put him OF. He then
purchased q ticket to Providence re New
Haven and Hartford, and took his seat in the
Oars
When the conductor gathered the tickets
Mr. Coleman offered his old coupon. The
conductor refused to receive 1t, saying it was
good from New Haven to New York, but not
for passage In the opposite direction. AS
the train approached Stamford the conductor
appeared again, and said in very abrupt
manner: Dwell, sir, how shall we settle thit
matter?" Mr. Coleman answered quietly
as before, and finally proposed TO give the
conductor his address, and TO agree that il
the reception Of tue ticket resulted in the
reprimand even of the conductor he would
send to him the money for the ticket, pro
vided he would return the ticket. This tho
conductor would not listen to, but said that
he should put Mr.. Coleman of the train. Al
| Stamford he carried his threat into execution
Five or six rough brakemen aed baggage
men wrenched him from the seat, taking thu
| frame and cushion OF the game time; pound
ed him With their f1stss and then threw bin
| broadside from the platform of the car to The
platform Of the depot. In the struggle they
| tore the flesh from his arm and leg and rup
| tured him for life. As the train started agaiI
Mr.. Coleman got upon ear, but the super
| intendept, bis son, and another man pulled
| him off and held him until the train hat
gone. Then he showed them his through
| ticket, and asked them why they held him
When DIR. Coleman reached Boston he at
| taehed tho New York express train, partly
| owned by the New Haven Company, aHG
| brought suit against them in the superior
Court OF Massachusetts, for $4,000 damages.
In the first trial the jury awarded verdict
| in his favor OF $500. After several weeks
| delay tho judge set the verdict aside, at tht
| request of the railroad, on the ground thu
| tho amount was excessive. The second tria
occurred in January, 1870, and resulted in
| disagreement OF the jury, eleven standing fo'
| the plaintiff and one, who had been connect
ed with the road, standing for the defendants
| The third trial took place in May of the same
year, and resulted In an award Of 50, 40
damages. A new trial was refused, and th
road appealed to the Supreme Court on point
Of law. Here new trial was ordered, and
after thirteen months delay, verdict o
$500 damages was obtained.
Mr. Coleman, after telling his story in
very interesting manner, discusses at con
siderable length the laws governing RAILROAD
companies and the rights and privileges
travellers. He takes as his text the follow
Ing declaration made to him by prominen
railway official and some of the charges, Q
the Judge, which will be referred TO furthe
on. One of the officials said to him Oh On
occasion
"The road has no personal animosit.
against you, Mr.. Coleman, but you represen
| the public. and the road is determined 7
make it so terrible for the public to fight il
right or wrong, that they will stop 1t. w
are not going to be attacked in this way"
"These threats" says Mr.. Coleman, ''wer
not directed against myself alone, but agains
the public. I" If limb is crushed
by the negligence of the railroad men, fgh
| instead Of pay the victim IS their theory o
dealing with the public; and they will re
move oil opposition by the power of wealth
| influence with the courts, and sheer terror
ism.n In the first trial,
aThs Judge charged directly against pas
Isengsrs upon every point. He ruled thatth