The herald., 1895-08-23
PUT OFF AT SAN FERNANDO
A Serious Mistake Made by the South
ern Pacific Company
A Man Riding on His Own Ticket Evicted
on the Suspicion Of
Train Agent

The Southern Pacific company has
adc another OF those annoying little
mistakes that have bscn increasing at
| such an alarming rate since the war
, against scalpers was ingugurated. The
victim of the company's suspicious zeal
in the present instance is W. r. Malone,
principal of the city high school of Salt
Lake, Utah. Mr.. Malone. who some
weeks ago made eastern trip for the
purpose of inspecting school work, pur-
chased a round "trip ticket from Chicago
to San Diego and return, and came west
to look into educational matters on the
coast. The trip was made without incl
dent, and for several days past Mr.. Ma
lone has been inspecting the school build
ings in Los Angeles and vicinity. having
returned from San Diego. Wednesday he
started home by way of San Francisco.
his ticket being over the Southern Pacific
on the return trip. Mr.. Malone was sit
ting in the smoker looking over his
ticket, when train agent Grattan came
along and asked him to give it up. Mr..
Malone did so, and shortly after Conduc-
tor j. M. Donnelly came through the car,
when Mr. Malone told him about the
train agent taking up his ticket, and
asked him to have it returned. Donnelly
replied that that was all right ard he
would see that the ticket was returned.
The two officials then disappeared in the
baggage car, and after some delay Grattan
returned and asked Mr.. Malone to sign
his name in a little book that he carried.
Mr.. Malone at first demurred, and asked
to be allowed to see the ticket. This was
refused, but he was shown the clause re-
quiriuG passengers to sign their names
for the purpose of identification. Mr..
Malone then signed his name as request
ed. The conductor afterward came and
made some remarks about Mr.. Malone's
protest against signing. There was more
or less talk. which finally ended in the
conductor telling Mr.. Malone that he
would either have to pay his fare or get
off. Mr.. Malone again demanded his
ticket, when the conductor coolly in
formed him that he had no ticket; that
1t had been taken up by the train agent.
who had left and would not return, and
that he would either have II pay his fare
at once or leave the train. intimating
that if ne, the conductor. could not eject
him there were a couple of brakemen who
would assist in the pleasing operation OF
bouncing the obstreperous passenger.
MIR. Malone then said that he would
not leave ahead of his baggage, but il
that was put off he would follow With
out making trouble. This was agreed to
by the conductor, aud when San Fernan-
do was reached Malone's baggage was
dumped off, and he followed suit. Shortly
afterward the south bound train passed
and Mr. Malone returned to this city.
paying his fare and taking receipt for
tha same.
Yesterday he put his case in the hands
of his attorney, s. P. Mulford, ESQ.,, and
if the matter is not compromised suit will
be commenced against the company to-
dav or tomorrow.
During the afternoon Mr.. J. NJ. Craw-
ley, assistant general passenger and
freight agent of the Southern Pacific,
sent for Mr.. Malone with view to ar
irving at settlement, admitting that q
mistake had been made and offering to
furnish transp ortation and pay the ex-
penses caused by the delay. This Mr..
Malone could not do. as he had turned
the matter over to his attorney. From
Mr.. Malone's statement. made to Her
aid reporter last evening, the action of
the train men was inexcusable. He said
that they simply assumed that he was
riding on ''scalped" ticket, and refused
TO allow him to identify himself by any
other means than writing his signature.
and this not being satisfactory to these
experts on penmanship, he was subjected
to the humiliation of being put off the
train.
Owing to the bitter fight between
the railroad company and the scalpers.
the incident has special significance at
this time.