The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-26
ELERICK THE LOSER
lie Violates the Courts Injunction and
Is Fined for Contempt.
THE MESSENGERS TROUBLES
Wires Cut. Pulled, Crossed, Strung
and Unssrung-i he Court Is In
terested I'm the Report That
II Was Bought Up.
THE MESSENGERS TROUBLES

The two rival messenger companies
had another inning before Judge Speer
yesterday on an order issued at the
instance of H. L. Haupt, manager of
the World company, citing Manager
Elerick of the Independent company
into court to show cause why he
should not be punished for contempt in
violating the injunction not to inter-
fere with the Worlds wires and mes
senger service, ii having been alleged
that Elerick had cut some of Haupt's
wires and torn down others. o. M. Hall
appeared for Haupt and ]. o. Bender
for the Independent company.
Bert Christie, night register for
Haupt's company, was the first witness
and said that Manager Elerick of the
Independent company had told him he
had torn down some of the Worlds
wires and intended to tear down some
more. The lineman went out the next
morning and found the wires down as
stated.
Several messengers also heard Ele-
rick say he had torn down some wires
and would tear down some more.
William Eddy was with Elerick when
he tore down the wires and put Inde-
pendent wires in their place. Eddy
didn't think the wires were injured as
they were only loosened and allowed to
hang down.
n llHSHldH ltSlllSQ tHdt nc lOuud tuc
wires pulled down. The wires of the
two companies ran close together but
both were insulated and could not cross
or interfere with each other so that
there was no reason why they should
be torn down. Elerick had often told
the hneman that he would tear down
the World lines IL they were run across
the Independent lines, and afterwards
the wires were cut at several places
and the circuit opened and the whole
business stopped. 1t took him a long
time to find the break. Wires were cut
in the Goldsall, Maui and Gold blocks
and at the Castle and Butte hotel. The
witness said that when Haupt COM
menced the injunction proceedings
against the Independent company in
Judge Speer's court, Elerick told him
there was no use in trying the case
before Judge Speer. as they had
bought the court"
Elerick thought the testimony was
very funny and he laughed aloud.
did he say how much the court had
been bought for?" asked the court
mo; he didn't mention the price,"
sadd the witness.
This is rather interesting and the
court would like to know just how
much 1t got out of this said the
Judge.
Elerick also told the lineman that he
intended to keep after Haupt and IL
one scheme didn't work he had another
he would carry out
H. L. Haupt. proprietor of the World
company, said ne knew Elerick by
sight and reputation, and told about
the damage he had sustained through
the wire cutting by ElericS. Haupt
stated that he had at one time been
one of the principal owners in the old
Independent company but had been
frozen out.
Elerick, the next witness, gave a
brief history of 0lis career, and said he
had worked his way from the ground
up. He started by digging pole holes.
He denied that he had ever threatened
to cut Haupts wires and had never cut
any. He also denied that he had told
anyone that the Judge had been
pany got the worst of the deal" in not
getting a verdict.
Elerick told about the danger in
crossed wires and explained that for
that reason he removed some of the
World wires. George Kessler and A. G.
Miller also testified about crossed wires
and the danger that might result from
them
At the conclusion of the testimony
the court declined to hear any argu-
ments and practically found Elerick
guilty of contempt, but let him off by
paying the costs and gave him until
Monday to do so. The court warned
Elerick that IL he was again brought
into court for violating the courts in
junction it would go hard with him and
that he would not be let off with q
ma vincent of a fine or costs