St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-05-25
Fifteen Thousand Dollars for
Bouncing a Passenger.
WHAT A PLUCKY YANKEE CAN DO WHEN
HE STANDS UP FOR HIS RIGHTS.


From the Omaha Bee
The case of W. J. Connell, the we'll
known attorney of this city, against
the PENNSYLVANIA railroad company,
for having been wrongfully elected
from one of its trains, was again tried
i'll Chicago last week, and the jury
again returned IL verdict in favor of
Mr.. COnnell for : ZOO, that being the
full amount claimed. At previous
trial last June, IL similar verdict was
returned, which was set aside by the
court, on account of an erroneous in
structiOn given to the jury. The case
was tried this time before Judge Gary,
one of the ablest jurists in Chicago,
who fully sustained the position of the
plaintiff, and instructed the jury ac-
cOrdingly. The jury, after being out a
short time, returned "A verdict for the
full sum of $4,000, and it is probable
that, in view of the character of the
outrage on Mr.. Connell, the jury would
have returned still larger verdict, had
IA larger amount been demanded.
The facts of the case are substantial
ly as follows: On December I, 1880,
Mr.. Connell having business in Wash
ington and New York, purchased from
Frank Moores, the ticket agent of the
Wabash railway, il tirst-class, full fare,
unlimited ticket, with the usual cou-
pons attached, over the Wabash, Bal
| timore and Ohio and Pennsylvania.
After concluding his arguments before
the supreme court at Washington he
left for New York, going, as his ticket
prescribed, via Philadelphia, at which
he had remaining the principal ticket
with the one coupon attached. Upon
reaching the Junction railroad, which
| is a three mile track across the city Ot
| Philadelphia and il part of the line ot
Pennsylvania railroad, he passed hi,
| ticket to the conductor, who examined
it and returned it to him, saying it was
all right. Seen after leaving Philadel
phia second conductor came abOarC
and called for tickets. Mr.. COnnel
handed him the ticket, together witt
five dollar bill, saying as he did so
"Mr. Conductor, will you be kline
enough to change this bill for me.
wish to buy some papers and am outo q
change" The conductor took boil
ticket and money, and immediatel,
tossed back the ticket, saying, ''you
ticket isn't good, sir" Mr.. Connell wa
greatly surprised at this announce
ment, and inquired why his ticket wa
not good. The conductor repfied be
cause the PENNSYLVANIA was in tigh
with the Baltimore & Ohio, and tina
no passengers were then being take
in connection with the Baltimore s
Ohio line. Mr.. COnnell then requeste
the conductor to return his money t
him, and allow the ticket question t
be settled on its merits. The conduc
tor refused to return the money. an
said that he couldn't waste any NOR
time over the matter, but would hav
to retain the fare, which was S3.2;
He then undertook to put the bill in hi
vest pocket, but before he could do 81
Mr.. Connell suddenly jumped for hin
seized his hand, wrested the bill frol
him, saying, Il don't propose, sir, yo
shall steal my money from me-"
The conductor then turned upon NJ
COnnell, and in great rage, with his fl.
doubled in a menacing manner, sai'
Now, sir, you pay your fare, or III il
stantly bounce you off this train =" NJ
Connell replied that he was willing
pay his fare if he had made any mi
, take or was i'll any way to blame. bl
if he, the conductor, could asst gn !
other reason for refusing his ticket t,
cept that two railroads were fghtiT
each other, he would most respectful
+. decline to pay fare. The cOnducto
thereupon, pulled the bell rope, stOppt
h the train, and with the help of h
b, "bOuncer," big trackman, weighiI
= at least two hundred pounds, rough
'g aud forcibly elected Mr.. COnnell fro
the train, quite seriously hurting b
hand and injuring his back, and aft
= getting him OFF, pitched his overco
d and valise after him.
st AS no through trains stopped at t
station near which Mr. Connel W