Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-18
ALMOST TROUBLE.
CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST FIVE lLEClRlU
MOTOR CONDUCTORS.
Two Conferences Hsld With Manager LOTUS ana
None Of the Charges Sustainsd-1hs
Methods Of the Detectives.

For some time past the Citizens Rail
way Company has had special agents do
ing detective work on the electric mo-
tor line. Rumors that trouble was
brewing have been rife for week past
and Yesterday Manager M. Lotus
brought formal charges of ''carelessness'
against five of the best known and most
popular men on the line, Messrs. Sam
uei Scott, Harry Chew, Martin Carroll,
Joseph Coyle and Harry Bowers.
Yesterday morning the men met man
ager Loftns in the Office OF the company,
and the nature OF the was explained 10
them. After a conference lasting
about an hour, the meeting adjourned,
until three o'clock in the afternoon. Al
the afternoon meeting the accused con-
ductors were present, along with Presi-
dent Frank Lawn OF the Electric Mo-
tor Employees Union, and Messrs. Aug.
Rust and Pat. Tracy, who with MI
Carol, comprise the Road Committee.
Superintendent LOTUS and j. II. Now
tell, the detective were also present.
Capt. B. B. Dovener appeared for the
men VINO were aCcuSeu.
The conference lasted until nve
o'clock, and resulted in failure TO
sustain any of the several charges. The
FIVE conductors will return to work this
morning. At the conference Mr.. harry
Chew acted as spokesman for the con-
ductors, and Mr.. Martin Carroll acted
as secretary. The accused asked that
charges be made In writing, but this
Mr.. LOTUS refused to do. Each con-
ductor defended his own case. Mr..
Mowtell had memorandum OF the al
legged violations Of rules, which were
discovered by him and his sub-detec-
tiveS. One man was accused OF ring
ing up too many fares on an up trip and
not enough going down. Another was
accused Of ringing the register too fast.
There was no proof to sustain any OF
the charges, except the statement OF Mr..
Mowtell. The charge against Mr..
Scott was disrespectful treatment OF a
director of the road, while he was
passenger on the car. This matter will
be discussed later, and witnesses
brought on both sides, probably. The
whole matter, so far as the company is
concerned, was understood to have
been settled with yesterdays confer
ence, but the men do not seem disposed
to allow the matter to drop.
A committee of the conductors called
at the REGISTER Office yesterday even
ing and asked to have the following
statement published:
To the Editor Of the Register:
The statement in an evening paper
regarding the charges preferred against
the five conductors on the Street Rail-
way were exaggerated, as no charges
made by the company were proven or
sustained. HARRY CHEW,
For the Conductors.
The conductors on the electric road
are very indignant at some OF the meth
DDS used by the "spotters" to induce
them to violate the rules OF the COM
pany. One conductor stated yesterday
to REGISTER reporter that man,
whose appearance tailed with the de-
scription of one of the detectives, had
on two different occasions tried TO in
duce him 10 take drink OF beer wnniy
on duty. he declined 10 do 90, Dut VI
fered to go TO confectionery and take
lemonade. This was not the spoilers"
purpose, and he declined to treat, and
did not drink himself on either occa-
siOQ