The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-27
AN OLD sLEEPING-cAR SCANDAL.
Facts About an Affair in Which JEFF Dav
Was q Principal Actor.

Facts About an Affair in Which JEFF Davis
Was Principal Actor.
George Trice. in st. Louis Globe Democrat.
don't know of any conductor who has seen
more service in Pullman car than l have.
was employed by the company shortly after the
war, during which was in the confederate
army. had charge Of the car on the Charleston
road when JEFF Davis and party of friends were
aboard, on their way to Chattanooga. During
my experience as q conductor many incidents
have occurred wherein my judgment was called
into play, and was compelled to act promptly in
emergencies at the risk of offending prominent
patrons of the road for the sake Of doing my
duty towards my employers. During the trip
when the Davis party was on the train an event
transpired upon which my position was staked,
and for some time afterwards / was in mortal
fear that the company would relieve me of my
services Among the passengers who accom-
panied the ex-Presdent of the Confederacy was a
Mrs. b., whom gave section OF the car, and
to the section opposite hers / assigned Mr.. Davis.
During the day he came to me two or three times
and told me that if the car was crowded l could
put him in the upper berth over Mrs. B.. and sell
his section to some one else / informed him
that ! had received positive instructions from
the road to show him and his party every atten-
tion and that would not consent to his occupy
ing such uncomfortable quarters. Mrs. b. was
to have left the train at Huntsville, but when we
arrived at that point new train conductor
came aboard, and when going through my car to
collect tickets he stopped in front of this lady's
section, and when he tried to pull aside the
curtains he met with vigorous resistance from
the occupant Within who refused to pay her
fare He appealed to me, and told him who the
lady was who occupied the berth; that she left
the car at Huntsville, and that there was no one
in the section. He insisted that was mistaken,
and to satisfy him went to Mr.. Davis's section.
not wishing to disturb the lady, to ask him If
Mrs B. had concluded to go through with the
party to Chattanooga drew the curtains aside,
and, to my amazement, there was no one in the
berth. and it was in the same undsturbed con-
dition as when made down by the porter. then
peeped through the curtains into the opposite
section, and there was Mr. Davis in the upper
berth, which had not been made up by the porter,
while in tho lower berth / saw the lady. The
train conductor wanted to stop and put the
couple off, but / argued him out of that idea
The next day the affair was reported to the off,
GERS of the road, who determined to make q
thorough examination of the matter. was
called before them and was asked to give state
ment, and was told beforehand to give Mr.. Davis
the benefit of every doubt, as the publication of
such scandal would work great injury to the
road They also gave me to understand that IL
my story proved to be true would be retained
in the service of tho road, but if my statement
was in any way false / would be summarily dis
charged, and that they would use their infiu-
ence in preventing any road employing me. They
made most searching investigation, as they
promised to do. have been in the service of
the sleeping-car company ever since