The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-07
George N. Martin, a Sioux City
Merchant, Says He Was
Abused.
A SUIT FOR $4,000 DAMAGES.
The Ticket Collector Rejected His
Signature and Left Him in the
SierraS.


chant of Sioux City, Iowa, who has been
an extensive shipper of California prod
ucts to Eastern cities, was put off a train of
the Central Pacific Company at Towles
Friday night because the conductor would
not take his signature as genuine, and
now the company has a $4,000 suit on its
hands.
Martin claims that he was needlessly in
suited and Inundated by the ticket col
lector, and, in addition to these personal
insults, was treated in a manner that
passes belief for it's cruelty. Hewa called
swindler and forger, and though in
very poor health was forced to stay at
Towles lumber camp when his condition
demanded immediate attention from a
physician. And yet he had frst-class
ticket, which he bought himself and
which bore his signature.
His business is large and varied. At one
time he had contract with the Orange
growers Association OF Riverside for all
its products, and again with the ]. L. An
derson Fruit Company of San Jose to ship
its whole crop to Eastern points. He has
been known as one of the best patrons of
the California fruit industry beyond the
Rockies, and a substantial source of rev.
enue to the Southern Pacific Company.
Being sufferer from locomotor ataxia,
Martin has been in the habit of coming to
California every winter for his health.
For five years past he has not missed
winter season in Southern California and
long stays at the Palace Hotel here.
July Is he bought a frst-class ticket in
Sioux City TO San Diego and return, with
stop-over privileges and limited to nine
months. On leaving home, this time on
business trip, he received personal letter
from General Agent Collins Of the Union
Pacific Company and General Agent
letter last Thursday, where he spent an
hour among the Eastern railroad agents
on the street and in their offices. 1t ap-
pears that the Southern Pacific ticket de-
tective took notes of his visits to the differ
ent offices and formed his own conelu-
sions. AS customary when traveller is
seen talking with a man near or in scalp
ers' offices he is watched on the trains,
and accordingly the Sioux City commits
sion merchant was Swallowed"
Martin left for his home Friday. All
went well as far as Sacramento, the col
lector passing his ticket and accepting his
signature. But beyond Sacramento new
collector took charge of the train and incl
dentally of Mr.. Martin and his ticket.
That cautious agent told Martin he did not
believe the name on the ticket was his
(Martin's) signature. He got several slips
of paper, upon which Martin signed his
name in pencil, which did not satisfy him
and he compelled the sick man to get off at
Dutch Flat and sign the ticket in ink.
Martin got on the train again and to his
surprise he was greeted by a strange col
lector, the other fellow having stayed at
that station with his ticket. Explanations
were of no avail with the new collector, for
Martin then had no ticket to show.
You will have to pay your fare or get
off the train at the next station" was the
only alternative given him by the ticket
taker.
Martin showed his cards for Identified
ton.
"Oh, they give you them at the scalpers
Office" remarked the collector.
The handsome Talise that Martin car
ried was on the seat, and he pointed to his
name engraved on its silver plate.
you're slick one, you are, said the
collector. "You have even the name on
the gripsack to swindle the company"
Martin expostulated and asked to be
permitted to ride to Truckee, where he
would be identified by the president of the
Truckee Lumber Company, with whom he
had had many extensive transactions.
The Truckee Bank would honor his draft,
and he could pay his fare again there if
the Identification were not wholly salts
factory. Then he pleaded to be carried so
Iar-a rev miles up the TOdu-Wnere ne
could have the attention of a physician, as
the annoyance had seriously aggravated
his nervousness. But Martin was told that
a lumber camp was good enough for such
fellows as he, and he had to leave the
train at Towles. He was really sick then,
but could get nothing better for his head
ache than quinine in the general store.
He telegraphed to the railway superin-
tendent at Sacramento, explaining who he
was and asking to be permitted to ride
back to Sacramento. A reply was re-
ceived telling him he might ride down on
the freight train, which came along in
few hours. At Sacramento he was left
about a mile out of town in the caboose,
but eventually got to hotel before morn
ing.
He came back to San Francisco next day
and instructed Delmas & Shortridge to sue
the railway company, which tried to COM
promise with him on the basis of free
ticket to Sioux City and $50 for expenses.
This was taken as another insult, and the
company will have to explain why it
should not pay damages of $4,000 to the
outrageously abused merchant.