Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-12
MAX'S MELANCE.
A Street Wanderers Comments and 0pin-
ions on Subjects of Local
Importance.
The I. II. & ". .DeaI-E.perience of a Rail-
road dLawyer-BriIliant Amateur The
RtricaI Event - '.Don't Monkey
With PersonaIs"-Local Topics.

\ day or two ago | had a pleasant con-
versatiOn with the Hon. 5. A. Bowman.
called at his Office to see him with reference
to the report that the consolidation of the
|. B. & W. and c. S. K c. railroads had
been effected and that the name of the con-
solidated roads would be the Columbus,
Lake Shore, Indianapolis & Western. Mr..
Bowman, who is probably the only man in
Springfield who is thoroughly cognizant of
all the facts relating to the ng-talked-of
deal between the |. b. X W. and c. S. Il
c. people. said that although the conSolida-
ton would very likely be made, no papers
had yet been signed, and consequently
nothing definite could be said with reference
to the matter.
Have you gone so far as to select a name
for the system in case the consolidation is
effected"
mo name has yet been agreed up
on replied Mr.. Bowman. ''and all
announcements TO that effect are premature
and the names given are very likely to be
wrong"
Mr.. Bowman said that it would not be
proper at this time to make full state
ment of the proposed deal for publication,
and he would prefer, therefore, to say moth
ing more about it.
The conversation turned on other things
and finally Mr.. Bowman related an incident
of his recent trip TO New York.
Il was sitting in the reading room Of an
uptown hotel discussing some important
railway matters with three gentlemen whom
had met by appointment. These gentle
men are heavy owners of railway stock and
arc. of course, power in railway circles.
While we were talking together very earn
eStly gentleman passed slowly through
the room. He had no intention of listening
20 what we were saying. but as he passed us
he caught the DRIFT of the conversation from
Just one or two remarks dropped in his hear
ing. That man Dinstantlyleft the hotel, toOkthe
first train to Boston, and as soon as he ar
rived there bought ali the stock of certain
railroad that he could lay his hands on. He
cleared Sl00, 900 in a few days. and then
had the presumption TO come 10 me about a
week afterward and say that it was very
mean in me not to have told of the ''snap,
as il was an accident that he had heard the
remarks which had inspired him to pur-
chase the stock"
"l gu may think it strange" continued
Mr.. Bowman after a little pause, but
never bought or sold a share of railroad
stock in my life. During my entire profess
sional experience | have been more or less
intimately connected with railroad bust
ness, but instead of taking advantage of
opportunities to make money by dealing in
OckS-OppOrtunitieS that every railroad
lawyer has-I have always made it a prac-
tice to make direct charge for nay services
and let others realize gains on the appreci-
alton in the value of stocks"
Il remember" said the attorney reflect
lively, as he tapped the ashes from his
cigar, "of an incident that well illustrates
what have just told you. A few years
ago the stock of certain railroad was
worth only dollar and a quarter a share.
Several heavy suits were pending against
the road, and the directors realized that un-
less those suits could be am
have tObe sold They intrusted
Immediately went west on my mission. 1t
required considerable time to go through all
the formaIities, but the task was finally
completed in manner which knew would
be eminently satisfactory TO my clients.
The stock of the road still stood at dollar
and a quarter share, and
/ could have taken sum equal
to that which | had expended on
my trip and purchased 500 shares. | was
the only person in the world who knew that
all the claims against the road had been ad-
justed, and knew that, as soon as the an
nouncement of the of the settlement of the
suits was made, the price Of stock would
go up like rocket. Sure enough, when it
became known that all the claims had been
satisfactorily adjusted. the stock lsaped up
to $50 a share. Although seizing of that
opportunity would have made me independ-
emily wealthy. have never been sorry that
remained true TO my clients"