The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-06
Mr.. mullen OF MINoOKA
Wants Watson & Zimmerman Re-
strained from Using His Name.
ELECTRIC ROAD IS BENEFICIAL
When Peter Signed tho Petition to Bring
Suit Against the Trolley Company
llo Was Not Aware Of Full
Import Of the Document.

The Tribune on last Friday contained
an exclusive account of the legal pro-
ceedings contemplated against the
Scranton and Pittston Traction com
pany, or the Lackawanna and Old
Forge Street Railway company, one and
the same, by property owners along
Center street, Minooka, and the eastern
portion of Greenwood. Center street is
more commonly called Main street.
Supervisors Connolly and Jones, in
the year 1892, gave the right of way to
the street car company and the resi-
dents had nothing to say in the matter.
The supreme court recently ruled that
where the right of way in boroughs or
townships is accorded to street car
company the owners along streets
where the railway passes can collect
consistent damages for any deprecia-
ton in value that may arise from the
construction Of these tracks.
Attorneys Watson & Zimmerman,
of this city, framed petition and sent
1t out among the residents along Main
street, Minooka, for their signatures.
The petition gave the attorneys permis-
sion to collect damages from the street
railway company for pushing its
tracks through that region without the
consent of the property owners. The
attorneys consented to undertake the
securing of indemnity from the owners
of the road without any cost to the
property owners. The amount collected
was to have been divided between the
attorneys and the citizens.
Peter Mullen Did Not Refuse.
The first one to whom the petition was
presented was Peter Mullen, of Green
wood, who, by the way was the con-
tractor who laid the street car tracks
from the city line, through Minooka and
Greenwood. Peter attached his auto
graph to the top of the petition. The
paper went the rounds among the prop
erty owners and was signed in every
house without a murmur. Visions of
great wealth doomed up before many.
But day or two after Mr.. Mullen
signed the petition he got sorry and
went to Justice of the Peace P. F.
O'Hara, who had the document in his
inside pocket. and requested him to
erase his signature from the petition.
The justice laughed at Peter. and this
levity only provoked him and he went
to Watson & Zimmerman and ordered
them to take his name off the petition.
He claims that they promised him they
would do so but neglected to fulfll that
promise. and are still circulating the
petition with his name on 1t and are
receiving signatures from citizens who
are influenced by the fact that his name
is at the head of the list.
Peter saw his attorney, NJ. e. McDon-
aid, and decided to apply for an injunc-
tion in court restraining Watson & Zim-
norman from using his name on the
petition. He declares that his signature
was procured through fraud, trick and
artifice."
MIR. Mullen Says lie Does Not Know.
Attorney Mcdonald instituted an
equity suit in court Saturday at the in
stance of Mr.. Mullen and a bill was
served on Attorneys Watson & thinner
man. Court granted rule on the de-
PENDANTS that they must enter appear
ance and file an answer within ten
days.
In his bill of complaint Mr.. Mullen al
leges that he was not aware at the time
he signed the petition of exactly what
it contained. He prays the honorable
court to restrain the defendants from
using his name as he believes that the
street car tracks enhanced rather than
deprecated the value of his property.