The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-04

at the hotel, who did not relieve his
anxiety by looking grave, shaking his
head, and remarking they had best both
go to the railway managers office. This
they did, and through the Intervention
Of a personal friend of one of the
directors, after apologies and explana-
tions, the American departed, glad to
have got rid, as he supposed, of this un-
pleasantness.
About five days after, having mean
time changed his hotel, our American
citizen had business down in the city,
after transacting which he had agreed
to meet his wife and friend at West
minister Hall, to view that noted build
ing. Standing near the entrance, and
awaiting her coming, he was astonished
| to observe her to be accompanied by
| two gentlemen instead of one. The
second was introduced as person who
had called at the hotel to see the Ameri-
/ can on private business. He was a re-
! spectacle looking individual of about
/ fifty years of age, dressed in pepper and
salt; and, stepping aside, presented to
the tourist his card, which bore the in
scription, "Mr. John Lund, Chief of
Police, bennington"
He was very polite; was very sorry he
had a very disagreeable duty to perform !;
and he drew out formidable-looking
document, with prodigious formula of
! English expression, and several staring
seals. which cited the offense our trav-
eller had committed upon one of her
majesty's servants, and summoned the
offender TO appear on the following
Wednesday, (it was then Saturday, al
the aforesaid " bennington.
81 was coming up to London myself, u
said the official, apologetically, and
thought 1 would serve this, to make il
as comfortable as possible"
! 1t was useless for the American tG
state that the matter had all been set
, tied by the railway manager: of this
the polite chief of police knew nothing
The first arrest was probably at the in
, stance of the officials of the railway
i, company in London; but this was by
the police authorities at bennington, o.
/ which he was chief. The official woulC
not be satisfied except by visit of The
! American and responsible friend agai1
J to the managers Office at the LondoI
station, where it was arranged that thu
} traveller would appear and answer OF
, the following week, if the affair was no
! settled before; and the polite chief o
the bennington police took his de
parture.
e However, the visit to Westminste
4 Hall was given up for that day, and tn
S American began to wish he had neve
e jumped on the railroad train. Suppos
Y ing all right now, however, he forgot al
a about it again, until it was pleasant,
| h4 +0 ind ho SnD
Y day by note sent him by private hand
n from his friend, to place where he wa
f spending the day.
This note informed him that the affai
# had quite serious look; that the genera
!, managers at bennington had bee
l. mulcted for damages for an accident tina
e occurred at that point few month
z, since, and that his jumping upon tn
d train had been witnessed by two of tn
principal directors, as well as by on
% of the local police, and it was determine
= to punish any such criminal recklessnes
It hence the summons, etc. This theLo1
n don railway officer had by his personal il
'e fuence succeeded in postponing for
e few days, but an expense of thre
a pounds ten shillings had been incurred
r and perhaps it would be best to arrang
d that before Mr.. John Lund or anothe
e official came up to London again.
e Our American was now getting ne
e vous and scared. He at once saw h
st English friend in London, and proceede
d to arrange the matter as suggested
|. Then, returning to his hotel, he ordered
y cab to take himself to railway station
i bidding the landlord goodbye as
going to Scotland. After being lande
4; at the railway station, and after di
charging the cabman, he took anoth,
r, cab, and drove to a new hotel, in Il
" hope that by this means Mr.. John Luz
ID might be lodged until he departed f,
Paris, which seems to have been success
N fully done; but the reason therefor w
explained in the following letter sent
IL him by his friend, who had arrange
le matters, and who received it from Il
lie railway authorities:
ye | think have arranged matters f
the withdrawal of the summons. tt
as expenses incurred amount to thr
ee pounds ten shillings. If your Americ.
he friend pays this, and at the same tin
1g wishes to benefit the Widow and
I'd phans' Fund Association of the railw;
in line, check for five pounds in full wi
ed be received"
rd 1t is almost unnecessary to state tn
tn the Americans English friend did t
needful instanter, and the Americ
et himself breathed freer accordingly,
l." though it had cost him twenty-five d.
lars for jumping upon an English ira
~ III nAo'io',.