Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-30
LEGAL ROBBERY.
HOW RAILROADS ARE IMPOSED
UPON BY PEOPLE.
Many Cases Cited to Show That the Roads
Are Unjustly Treated -" Thou
Shalt Not Steal"
DALLAS, TEX, Sept. %.
Editor Gazette.

DAl.iAAS, lEA., Sept. 90
Editor Gazette
Within the last few years there has been
SO much abusing railroads that men and
women who would not entertain the
thought of getting money out of others I'M
justly do not hesitate to get money out of
railroads in any way they can
1t has become proyerbial that whenever
COW is killed on railroad it is a Jersey
cow" A supreme judge in Texas not long
ago told me tuat 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 cases IN one day
from but one county, because the damages
We're excessive. These cases were against
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad.
The following are only some of the illustra-
lions 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 Alyarado an old mule which was turned
out to die, was killed by the Santa Fe, and
the owner received Sl25 damage. In
Bosque county Is a saloonkeeper who re-
ceived 500 from the Santa Fe road for very
slight injuries, and when the road was not
to blame for the injury. For killing. an
old mule which could not eat corn, after
the Santa Fe offered to pay $50 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 - double the value of the
barn. Not long ago, at or near Lampasas,
man got $1,000 from the Santa Fe road,
and soon after went to spending it as a
spendthrift prodigal.
From another leading road, believe the
International and Great Northern, man
got damage for slightly hurt mule. The
mule recovered and he then sold it for a
good price. Not long ago the court
pay man $4,000 damages for the
injury of q member of his family,
By 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 no lameness. was hurt the
same way, though possibly not so bad,
but MEYER thought of suing the road, Not
long ago .'wooden-headed" conductor on
the Cotton Belt stopped his train and lot q
lady off, 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, q noble Baptist, who lives at
Willis and is attorney for the international
and Great Northern railroad, told me that
at Conroe 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 had his
receipt for the money.
A man riding on free pass and on
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
afterwards expressed regret that he did not
make the road pay more-that, too, when
the case was not one of permanent injury.
1t is like case to q 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 friend's kind
ness. These are but few illustrations of
the robbery Of Texas railroads by unjust
damages. The Texas railroads uniustly
pay out annually probably not less than
81. 200, coo as damages. That verdict can
be obtained from jury against
a railroad. however unjust, has
become proyerbial. This has become so
well known that even holder attempts than
the above are made ngainst the railroads
1t has not been long since . scoundrel tied
an old horse to the Interna-
tinna. and Great Northern road
track to get it killed, that be
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, . passenger got OF few
hundred yards befpre he got 70
the depot. and sued the road
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