Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-01
LEGAL ROBBERY.
HOW RAILROADS ARE IMPOSED
UPON BY PEOPLE.
Are Unju>tly Treated -"Thou
Shalt Not Steal
DALLAS, TEX, Sept. IS.
Editor Gazette.

so much ABUSING railroads that men anC
women who would not entertain tn,
thought of getting money out of others IN
justly do not hesitate to get money out o.
railroads in any way they can.
1t has become proverbial that whenever
cow is killed on a railroad it is jersey
cow" a supreme judge in Texas not long
ago told me that he frequently had appeals
from the lower courts involving excessive
damage cases, but where he cannot
though the damages are excessive, reverse
them. Not long ago the supreme
court reversed fourteen cIses IN one day
from but one county, because the damages
were excessive. These cases were agairSi
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas r;s&f6ad
The following are only some of the illustra,
tions of the way in which people rob the
railroads. lean assure the reader they are
not imaginary, for have them on the best
OF evidences. To prevent being personal
leave out the places and names in some cases
At Alvarado an old mule which was turned
out to die, was killed by the Santa F'e, and
the owner received Sl25 damage. IN
BOSque county is a saloonkeeper who Pc
ceived 500 from the Santa lie road for very
slight injuries, and when the road was not
20 blame for the injury. For killing an
old mule which could not eat corn. after
the Santa Ee offered to pay so damages a
jury gave the owner $50. In Bosque county
a man sued the Santa Fe for burning a
barn, and after the insurance company had
paid him got pay also from the
road d double the value of the
barn. Not long ago, at or near Lampasas,
for q very slight and not permanent injury
a man got $1,000 from the Santa F'e road,
and soon after went TO spending it as q
spendthrift prodigal.
From another leading road. / believe the
International and Great Northern, q map
got damage for slightly hurt mule. The
mule recovered ard he then sold it for a
good price. Nor long ago the court
compelled the Texas and Pacific railroad to
pay man Si010 damages for the
injury of member Of his family,
BY a Baptist who knows the whole matter
am told that the member went home until
the damage was decided and Immediately
then got over all lameueSS. | have fire.
Quently seen the case since the damage was
paid, but saw 10 lameness. l was hurt the
same way, though possibly not so bad,
but never thought of suing the road. Not
long ago a ''wooden-headed' conductor on
the Cotton Belt stopped his train and let
lady off, a few hundred yards beyond
where she desired to get of. The road was
sued and mulct Of large sum by false wit
nesses who swore that almost fatal results
followed.
Bro. Mccall, noble Baptist, who lives at
Willis and is attorney for the International
and Great Northern railroad, told me that
at Conroe 4 man sued the road for pay for
a COW which that road killed, and that
he drove him to withdraw the suit
because the road had paid him and hid his
receipt for the money.
A man riding on free pass and on q
promise to not hold the road responsible for
damages, not only drove the International
and Great Northern road to pay
him $1,000 damages, but am told
of arIS caI ,l,4 h. 4
make the road pay more-that, toe, when
the case was not one of permanent injury.
1t is a like case to man who should make
another pay $1,000 damage because
he was hurt by an axle of the
buggy breaking down when he was
receiving free ride by his friends kind
ness. These are but few illustrations of
the robbery of Texas railroads by unjust
damages. The Texas railroads uniuStIy
pay out annually probably not less than
Sl.00O,000 as damages. That verdict can
be obtained from jury against
railroad. however unjust, has
become proverbial. This has become so
well known that even holder attempts than
the above are made against the railroads
1t has not been long since a scoundrel tied
fona old and h0rSS Great No 5ri '9 road
track to get it killed, that he
might get damages by making it appear
that well horse had been killed by the
road. Recently, on the Santa Fe, with no
fault of the road, a passenger got of 4 few
hundred yards before he got to
the depot, and sued the road
for damages to his feelings. These out
that to mulct the road of big unjust dam
ages, not few watch for some oversight
or error of the conductor or some other en-
ploye, and so difficult is it for a road
to get justice that it has become
almost a great business with many
lawyers to watch for anything of the kind
and put the people up to sue the road and give
Now. th,truth is: This whole business is
robbery. 1t is as great a sin
in Gods sight as robbery of other than
railroad people. Then it is not only
a robbery of the stockholders of the rail
roads, but it is robbery of every man who
rides or hauls freight on the railroads 1t
robs the people, IN that railroads must
keep up their charges SO as to meet the
heavy outlay for these robbery damage
cases. Really. the people are the main
ones whom these robberies hurt.
BY the best of Baptists, who know what
they say from being employees in various
positions on the roads, such as attorneys
and section bosses, whose positions lead
them to act for the roads in such cases, l
Am informed that I ne ROADS are ready, wnen
to pay all just damages without
any legal contest.
In truth, common sense should convince
Us of this for it is evident that men as wise
IS are those who manage the railroads can
put make it 4 point to avoid, as far as posi-
ole, mourning the animosities Of the people
along their lines.
In conclusion: During the last twenty
years, from my work being mostly in cities,
where have known railroad men, from
he general managers down to the brakemen,
some of whom were and are members
If Baptist churches, l must say that
while, like all human beings, they have
heir faults, they are as good men as are
my other class of business men. They
should have the justice and the charity
which are extended to all other men. In
ustice to our country, to our own souls and
o the great railroad interests Of our coun-
.ry ask consideration Of this article.
W. a. JARREL.
P. S.-Just now case is instituted !
.gainst the Texas and Pacific railroad by a |
Minister who is himself to blame and who |
las not received any real damage. Ofcourse
he lawyers encouraged him to institute |
he suit. as it is so easy to get jury who |
will strike the road on any pretense.
Then, passengers who would scorn to
teal in other cases will, especially in a
rowded car, to steal ride, tate
advantage OF the hurried con