The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-02-04
RAILROAD TRAIN SPOILERS. ?

And weight of that head philosophy
Could make less missed from my heart, tonight
RAILROAD TRAIN SPOTTERs."
How They mark Out Dishonest Con-
ducLOrs.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Among the conductors there is no
class of men held in such contempt as
"spotters." That the general reader
may not confound this class with any
other, it may be explained that the reg
ularly authorized detective forces are
not always called spoilers. These GRIM
mai hunters as a rule confine themselves
to their legitimate business, and seldom
80 put up Jobs" Pinkerton's men are
not often found guilty of making evil
dence against innocent employees, and
for this reason are held in something
like respect. "Spotters" are individu-
ais who make their appearance In the
general offices of the railway companies
and prefer charges against some one.
They are asked for proof, and in return
ask time and facilities, of course stipu-
lating that the pay must be so much.
| Then they go to- work and the result Is
soon known. The plan of operation
was matured beforehand, and the "spot-
Ter BGlOOLu Lhl1b W 0CblAON b44C
| ton OF those whom he happens to
pounce upon as victims. He cares moth
! ing for who or how many are ruined, so
that apparent guilt is fastened. The
| greater number of conductors found
50 guilty the better-the greater his re-
ward and the louder his praises. 1t Is
coming to be known as a fact that half
the talk of conductors of six months
with houses and lots, gold watches and
of jewelry" grows out of the operations
of spoilers in working up substantial
false evidence against innocent, upright
men. Years of faithful service and up
right conduct, up to within a very short
time, have helped not at all in clearing
the character of men once cursed by
contact with these mock detectives. A
case or two in point.
The spotter tells the manager OF a
road upon which conductors on some of
the trains are not allowed to collect fare
in money, that money is being taken.
The manager wants proof. Mr.. So
and-so takes the tram, and when the
conductor comes round pleads that he
has LIST his ticket, and asks as q great
favor that the money be taken. He is
in great hurry to get to his destina-
ton, and would not let it be delayed.
ODllR6 INC DEAEGlcI bLC I1OL0J 10 GaA01
and the conductor is destroy ed.
Knowing how his return must be made
the obIigiDg conductor on the first OPP
portunity buys ticket for the money
given him by the hurrying passenger,
| and in the proper way makes his settle
ment. The manager knowing that the
| spotter had no ticket, concludes at once
| that he has dishonest man on the road,
and there is soon discharge, the con-
| ductor knowing nothing of the cause.
Another plan is to have the manager
mark a number of tickets SO that they
can be readily identified. This is very
easy. The spotter then travels back and
| forth, and he tells the manager, on
| these tickets, always ascertaining the
names and making note of the trains
| upon which he rides. The truth is,
! that if he rides at all, he pays
his fare, and has some confederate 20
sell the marked tickets to the scalping
officers. Then going to the manager,
! he asks if SUCH and such q conductor
! has returned a marked ticket. Upon
! examination it is found that he has not
A visit to the scalping offices is then
| suggested, and sure enough, among
others of the same line, is one or more
| of the tickets that the manager
himeeH marked only a few days pre-
vious, and which he thinks he knows
were taken up by such and such q con
| ductor. What is the result There il
but one course for the gentlemanly
official, who, thinking he has discovered
dishonesty, dispenses with the services
of the man found guilty" Officials
have more than once remarked in the
hearing of this writer, alluding to dis
charges Just made, that they we're in
deed surprised. Such and such a maj
had been in the employ of the company
for so many long years, and it turned
out that he had been stealing all tine
time.
Within a short time the discovery wal
made, through the mock detectives
that freight conductors had not beer
punching their tickets, but saving anC
selling them. The discovery was made
by officials boarding trains as soon a!
they arrived in the city limits, anC
taking possession of the sstchel or desI
of the conductors, upon opening which
uncanceled tickets were found, as the
| spotter said would be the case. The
excuse offered by the men when con
fronted by the unimpeachable evidence
was that when the tickets were takeI
there was no time to punch them, Other
duties demanding their attention, anG
the tickets had been put into the satche,
or desk to punch at leisure. This was
pronounced a very poor explanation an6
there were wholesale discharges of con
ductors who had been on the road fol-
years and had the confidence of theil
employers.
Such is brief history of the manner
In which sharpers ruin honest men.
There is some satisfaction, however, il
the fact that the tricks resorted to are
now becoming known and that they will
will not be so successful in the future
Better still, several of the best conduct.
ors on the Illinois Central, Michigan
! Central, Chicago and Alton, and North.
western, laid of for alleged dishonest
practices, have recently been reinstated,
the modus operandi of the well-dressed,
| fluent " spoilers" having been shown
up and the innocence of the parties
! proven.