Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-03
STOPPING A RAILWAY rRAIR.
A Lively Time at Galloway Station.
Hcw a POssee-C Omitatus Reared and
Pitched, Failed to Fetch Their
Man. and Retired 10
Good Order.


A Somerville, Tenn, darky stoi ,
somebody's coat, 1t was unfortunatel,
observed by Captain Hilbert, passen.
ger conductor on the Louisville rail.
road, leading from this city. The
captain wa summoned by the courts
mandates to appear as a witness
against the thief, the trial being fixed
to come off at Someoville, Tennessee,
about fourteen miles by the nearest
direct road from the closest point on
the Louisville road. The captain
wrote a note to the officials explaining
the necessity of his remaining on his
train at this critical iu~ncture
when so many refugees are
coming home and heavy freight trains
are SO numerous over the road. This
card gave umbrage to the officials.
They waxed wroth, like our quaran-
tine oppressors used to do every now
and then. A posse was raised; a
bowling set they we're too, if report be
r%rue-about equal in point of charac-
ter and demeanor to the late National
board Of health picket force around
this city. On Saturday last thev
Fobstructed the track, surrounded
Hilbert's train, rammed a pistol under
The proboscis Of the engineer and had
a jolly, Jeering time of it. The train
was full Of people, Other trains
were known to be not far away
and some alarm followed among the
passengers. The sheriffs, marauders,
or whatever they could be called, went
through every car, pceped behind each
doorway, and into every closet,
searched the roof, rear and under
ground sections of the coaches, looked
under the wood pile, and failed to Law
eye on the invisible conductor. They
endeavored TO enter the baggage and
express car, but were warned to steer
clear, under penalty, as the keeper of
thatspecial arnotifed the visitors that
he would defend 1t to the last against
all persons, drunken deputies, and
others included. After the train was
kept for an hour or more it was re-
leased and permitted to move on. AS
Captain Hilbert checked up at the
same place yesterday morning an Of
fetal laid hands on his shoulder and
said he was arrested. The train was
again placed in jeopardy, and the pas
sengers on board demonstrated. Sew
eral lawyers and Others attempted to
explain that process could not legally
be served on Sunday 1t was all of no
avail. The limb Of the law was mex
orable, and would listen to nothing
reasonable or otherwise. lie did not
care a continental if every moving rail
way train was smashed into kindline
wood by collisions all he wanted
aud all he would have was Captain
Hilbert, nothing more or less. A plan
was rugged to get the mar on the train
and then unbridle the throttle valve
and let her go. Finally, however, it
was agreed that bpndsmen would sign
for the proper forthcoming of Captain
Hilbert. The official was afraid the
bond would not stand, being signed on
Sunday, but finally it struggled into
his thick head that a Sunday signed
bond was as good as a Sunday
signed process. So he con
cluded to take it. Messrs. Wood
ruff and George CAN'T youched
for the appearance of Captain Hilbert
when wanted, and the train, after
losing thirty-6ve minutes, went lum-
tering along, no accident having
occurred, all, however, through the
watchful care of the railroad men and
not through any desire to prevent
such catastrophe by a Fayotte county
official. The coat thief is to have a
hearing at somcryille tomorrow and
Captain Hilbert will be there, even
though he goes on foot fourteen miles
through the woods.