Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-12
THE RAILROADS.
Glendale Road Gauge to be
Changed Sunday.
Trackwalker Callahan and
Railroad Cigars.
The Southern Pacific Commences a
War on Scalpers.
All Ready for the Change of Gauge on
the Glendale Road-The Route
the New Line VIII Take.
Notes.

The Terminal people expect to change
che gauge of the Glendale branch of
their system on Sunday next, all the
preparations being completed except
the construction of the new bridge across
she Arroyo Seco. Two pile drivers are
Ak work at that and it will doubtless be
completed in time.
The line now on Wells street will be
abandoned and the track will be laid
straight from Jeffsries' place to the
north OF De Camps lumber yard, where
IL will connect with the main line.
CALLAHAN AND RAILROAD CIGARS.
This is the way Harry Patton. in his
Banning Herald, does up the trial of
Callahan, the Southern Pacific track
walker:
Last week the Herald contained an ac-
count of the arrest of John Callahan,
trackwalker, for fourishing pistol and
threatening to remove hence a news
butcher on the overland train near Sew
en- Palms. Callahan who, it seems, bears
. pretty good reputation on the desert,
where he has worked for the past five
years, was arraigned before Justice Nor
MS Saturday morning. It was evident
that the Southern Pacific company was
determined TO push the case, as, in addi-
lion to three witnesses, it sent up its
regular attorney, Judge Trask OF Los An
aeles, who stands in the same relation
to the Southern Pacific in Southern Cal
dornia that Greed Raymond does up
Al Id r ~ =. Al g.
his easy, graceful, courteous bearing in
court, threaded the intricate mazes of
che case with the sure-footedness of
burro climbing a mountain trail. His
mastery handling of the witnesses,
logical presentation of the case, polite
tbut biting repartee, and fatherly advice
20 the court, excited the admiration
Of the spectators to degree. The COM
pany was fortunate in sending Judge
Trask up to try this important case in
ntead of his clerk, who sometimes repre-
Dents the company in minor matters.
Callahan put up plea of self-defense,
and the evidence clearly sustained his
plea. Thornburg, the butcher, testified
10 selling Callahan cigar, and the lat
ter saying that presently he would take
another one and pay for both. When
Thornburg returned after a while, he
was met not only by refusal to pay for
the cigar, but was the victim of hos
lille demonstration with six shooter in
the hands of the infuriated Callahan.
Thornburg swore plainly that half of
the cigar was smoked up when he de-
manded payment. This testimony was
conclusive, and if Justice Morris had
been addicted to the use of tobacco,
and had ever tackled one OF Eli Dem
ison's cigars, sent out by Bob
Green of Los Angeles, and retailed for
Is cents on the train, he would have dis
charged Callahan, and held Thornburg
Tor assault to commit murder. Why,
Denison has sold those cigars for so long
that he has lost all respect for himself
and held seat in the late legislature of
California, with none SO poor as to do
him reverence" Bob Green, while only
an agent, teels his position so keenly
shat he is wasted away to skin and bone.
One thing that initiated against Gala
hams case was the impossibility of find
ing live man to swear that he had ever
smoked one OF the cigars. Nine certified
verdicts of coroners' juries finding rail
road cigar" as the cause of death were
introduced in evidence, but were not
deemed sufficient, and Callahan was
bound over in the sum of $500, and de-
parted for San Diego Saturday night,
with Deputy Constable B. p. Yerington.
Conductor Curtis was not present at
the trial.
WAR ON SCALPERS.
The Southern Pacific has begun fight
against the ticket scalpers. Several
suits brought against the company by
persons who were elected from trains
while riding on ''scalped" tickets have
been won by the company and that has
emboidened it to make the fight more
bitter, says the San Francisco Examiner
Of Sunday.
The point at which they have made
che first attack is at Los Angeles. A
special train agent, who is supposed to
recognize the ear-marks on ''scalped"
ticket when he GEES one has been put on
the run between Los Angeles and
Bakersfield, with special instructions to
look out for the contraband article and
take up all that may be presented TO
him and collect full fare.
The Southern Pacific local business
suffers more than one would think from
the scalpers. The southern divisions
are the chief sufferers. Through tickets
are sold in the east over the Sunset
reute Tor Los Angeles or San francisco
at she same price.
Al passenger with an eye for business
will buy through to San Francisco or
Sacramento. His destination is Los
Angeles, and margin of three or four
days is allowed on all tickets over the
actual time necessary to make the trip
Arriving at Los Angeles the passenger
kas his coupon, good for the 800 mile
trip 30 San Francisco, provided lis used
before the expiration of the time punch
ed upon it. The local trip from Los An
geles to San Francisco costs SIS The
passenger can get four or five dollars
for his unused coupon and the ticket
broker gets $40 for it. The local traveller
saves $5 the ticket broker and the
through man make IS each. and the
Southern Pacific company carries pas
Benger for nothing.
The same thing is worked between
Portland and Sacramento and San Fran
cisco. During the boom days down
south, when through passengers of all
classes were arriving daily, there was a
ecalping Office in every saloon and ciga-
store on Main and Spring streets, and
few travellers to San Francisco, Sacra-
laento or Portland paid full fare.
The Southern Pacific comparv dopa