The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-04
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
Telephone Companies Must Furnish
Service at the Rate of So a Month.
Kansas Sheriff Cheated of Prisoner by Terre
Haute Lawyers-Workmau Crushed to
Death-IlIinois Health Board 0verruled.
INDIANA.

Telephone Companies Must Furnish Instru-
ments at the Lawful Rate.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LAFAYETTE, Jan. 3.-In the application OF
Susan B. Falley for mandate to compel the
Central Union Telephone Company to supply
her with a telephone connection at 50 month
Judge Vinton sustained demurrers to all OF the
companys answers holding that under the
statute the company was bound to furnish every
applicant with a telephone and connections at
the statutory rate. One of the company's answers
insisted that it was engaged in interstate COM
merce, and that the act of the Legislature VIC
lated the Constitution of the United States.
The other answers set up, in different forms,
that it was not engaged in the business Of rent
ing telephones or of supplying private wires or
private telephones to any one; that the only
form in which it undertook to serve the public
was by means of what is known the public
toll system, under which the company estab-
lished agencies at public stations at the
residences or business houses of allspersons to
whom it supplied a telephone, and that all such
persons were the company's agents. and that all
individuals, on equal terms, might by paying
cents for each communication, their tele
phones at such stations. The court held that
while the company might perhaps legally con-
duct business in this way, yet that, as it was
engaged in a general telephone business. it was
nevertheless bound to supply all applicants for
telephone connections and facilities at resi-
dences, or places of business with telephones
and the necessary apparatus or facilities for
placing him in connection with all the local
patrons of the company, at So per month.
Helped Out of an Ugly Hole by Lawyers
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
TERRE HAUTE, Jan. 3.-Several days ago the
police arrested DR.. Christopher Parker. OF
darlington, Kan. a telegram from Sheriff
Braden of Girard Kan, that he was wanted on
a charge of rape. When arrested Parker sent
for Senator Voorhees, and ex-Congressman
then denied his guilt, and said he was willing to
60 back without requisition The Kansas
sheriff telegraphed two or three times, while on
his way here, urging the authorities to hold the
prisoner. Meantime Parker retained additional
attorneys, and this afternoon, after
the sheriff had gone to Indian
apolis to get requistion papers,
Parker having decided not to go without
them-they went into court for writ of habeas
corpus, which was granted, and the court dis
charged the prisoner. AS he left the courtroom
he was again arrested by the police, who had a
tusse with lawyer Lamb in securing their man.
Another writ was secured and Parker was again
released. One of his attorneys tried to hand
him a revolver as he left the courtroom, telling
him he would be justified in shooting any officer
who again attempted to arrest him. Parker.
after deciding over several hundred acres of land
to his lawyers and paying them considerable
money which his wife brought to him, left the
city, and will not be accessible when the Kansas
sheriff returns from Indianapolis.