The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-03-20
HIS MUSCLE SAVED HIM.
Southern Pacific Employees Trounced BY
an Olympic Club Athlete

San Francisco Examiner.
William f. Johns, the stockbroker who
resides at I5s Oak street. was forcibly
elected from a car OF the Post street
branch Of the Market Street Railroad
Company yesterday for presenting 4
conductor with q transfer, the punch
marks Of which showed that the passen-
ger had twenty-five minutes TO spare.
Mfr. Johns left his home about in
O'Clock TO go to the Olympic Club. He
boarded a Hayes street car in front OF
his house and at the corner OF Hayes
and Polk streets took a transfer TO the
Post street line The Hayes street car
arrived at Polk strest about 10. and
the transfer given to Johns by the con-
ductoI Of that car was punched at Z
O'Clock. showing that the passenger had
fully thirty minutes in which to use II
johns stood on the corner Of Polk and
Hayes streets waiting for the car to
come. He waited there for three or
four minutes. but the car was behind
time. Becoming impatient. he walked
up the block to Grove street. intending
TO jump on the car when 1t overlook
him.
Just as he was approaching Grove
street. car 70S, in charge OF Conductor
Charles Healy. came along, and Johns
boarded II. He presented his transfer to
Healy. but the conductor refused It.
That's no good" said Healy.
"why not?' asked Johns
We'll, it's no good-that's why" curtly
replied the conductor.
But II is only twenty-five minutes to
2 and this transfer Is punched for :
O'Clock"
Come. get off. or III throw you on
Johns dared the conductor TO carry out
his threat. claiming that the transfer was
good until O'Clock. Healy rang to stop
the car. and then ordered the gripman
to help him eject Johns. The three men
began to struggle. and the ladies in the
car screamed with fright Healy saw
that Johns was getting the best Of him.
and with his clenched fist struck the
| passenger in the jaw. cutting him badly.
| Then a free fight ensued. Johns Is q
| powerful man. with well-developed
muscle, and is considered one OF the
| char. pion amateur boxers Of the olympic
! Club. He began letting out right and
left on Healy and the grlpman. and in
few minutes they both surrendered
The gripman finally made second at
tempt to strike Johns. and Johns landed
hard on the gripman's neck. and in the
midst Of the fracas the latter turned
! anu hONh 0AONO StiCNef ANesAAS AAo
car alone with the conductor.
At that point the police arrived on the
scene. and at the instance OF Healy Johns
was placed under arrest. He was eharg-
ed at the city prison, but was soon re-
| leased.
The car was attached TO another and
went on its way.
Johns had the transfer in his possession
at the city prison, The fact that he pre-
sented 1t to Healy before O'clock Is
well established. as he was booked at
the city prison before that hour
Peter Mullin, Twenty-tlrst street and
Potrero avenue; Albert Windt, 1924 Ne
braska street; S. A. o'Hara, 1929 Howard
street. and Howard H. McCallahan, 21l
Eleventh street. were witnesses to the
AFFAIR. and saw the conductor strike the
first blow.
Johns intends to bring suit against the
railroad company for damages.
NV. E. Johns is an old Astorlan. a
grandson Of Mrs. J. w. Conn, and well
known and well liked throughout this
ethyl