The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-18
TAYLOR STREET CARS
WERE OBSTRUCTED

the Postal company and the Central
Pennsylvania Telephone company have
refused to pay theirs and the matter
Is now in court awaiting trial.
ACTION BY COUNCILS.
However, on Friday evening. Nov. 6,
regular meeting Of the borough coun-
Gil was held. all members being present.
The neglect of the street car company
in living up to the agreement under
which the right Of way was granted
was discussed at considerable length,
and after mature deliberation 1t was
decided that the company be notified
to begin work not later than Nov. II.
Otherwise the track would be obstruct-
ed and cars prevented from coming
into the borough.
Burgess Griffiths said that notice was
served on the company the next day
and that promise was made that
work would be started on Nov. 10. The
10th came and no repair gang. 1t went
on in that way until Monday night.
when he. as the executive officer of
the borough, gave instructions to the
street commissioner to go yesterday
morning before any of the cars entered
the borough and blockade the tracks.
Llewellyn and High Constable Davis
did as they were directed. From 5.45
IN the morning until nearly noon no
effort was made by the company to
clear the obstructiOns. Superintendent
Robert f. Fox along toward noon went
to the office of Alderman Millar and
swore oh warrants for the arrest Of
Burgess Griffiths. Street Commissioner
Llewellyn and Councilman John p.
Thomas.
Special Officer John Tierney went to
Taylor and arrested the three. Each
waived Il hearing and entered bail in
the sum of $1,000 for appearance
at court. The burgess is also justice
of the peace of Taylor and he took bail
for the other two defendants. James
Powell. jr.. went bail for Thomas and
John Neiger went bail for Llewellyn.
The burgess went before Justice Of the
Peace Andrew j. Doles and entered
bail. Edward Mechen became his
bondsman. The charge on which they
were arrested is obstructing the track
OFFICERS WOULD NOT MOVE.
After the warrants were served Su-
perintendent Fox. according to Bur-
CESS Griffths, went to the scene Of the
distractions and told the officers on
guard. Edward f. Carter and Richard
Morris, that it was all right. they need
not stay around any longer. The OFF,
GERS had been instructed to stay there
until they We're ordered away by the
burgess, and they told Superintendent
Fox so.
Things went along quietly until
about o'clock Crowds Of people had
been attracted out of curiosity and at
no time was there less than fifty
around. and at other times there was
over 200. At l o'clock q car came along
from the city and aboard 1t were over a
dozen motormen and conductors Of the
company. AS soon as the car stopped
they made q concerted move toward
the Instructions to remove them be-
fore anyone could stop them. They
scattered the ties off first. but when
it came to removing the corner stone,
not enough could get around 1t to bulge
1t.
The two officers made heroic effort
to prevent the employees from clearing
the track. and they did not need to
wait long for assistance. In a jiffy
from all directions came men and wO-
men and children, and all took a hand
in to stop the clearing process. The
employees We're forced to retreat amid
storm of gliding and jeering. The
scrimmage in the attempt to clear the
track did not result in blows. but as
sumed the dimensions of tug Of war
Tor five minutes.
CORNER STONE USED.
The law provides that a borough must
erect a corner stone at each Of its angles
and this stone used yesterday was
erected a few feet away from the track.
1t is about seven feet long. eighteen
inches wide and twelve inches thick
and is solid block Of marble.
AS soon as the employees went away
the street commissioner came with his
pick and spade and sank the post hole
and put down the post In the center Of
the track. From that time until even
ing there was no excitement.
Attorney John NJ. Harris, who Is So
licitor for the borough. was not at the
meeting of the council "a Friday, the
18th, at which 1t was decided t. OBJ
struct the track providing the company
should not within the specified time put
men to work on the road. nor was he
consulted as to the legality of taking
such step
a Tribune reporter interviewed him
and he said that the borough officials
were acting under the scope of police
regulations invested in them by the
commonwealth. The term in its in
teri Station means general welfare,
and the borough officials felt that they
had the authority to obstruct the track
as right when the company failed to
comply with the provisions of the or
dinance under which permission was
granted to lay it's tracks on Main street.
BILL IN EQUITY.
The bill in equity filed in court by
the company says that the burgess and
the council have without any lawful
| authority interfered with the passage
of the plaintiffs cars and have placed
distractions on the track, wholly pre-
venting the passage of cars and endan-
gering the property of the plaintiff
and the lines and safety of it's EN-
ployes and passengers and they threat
en- to prevent the removal of such OBJ
structions.
The bill then prays for an injunction
to restrain the defendants, their Off
GERS, agents. servants and employees
from interfering in any way with opera
tion of the street railway or from plac-
ing any distractions on the track or
from interfering with the plaintiff in
the removal of any distractions then
on the track. Judge Archibald granted
a preliminary injunction and fixed Sat-
urday morning at Q o'clock for hear
ing. The company furnished bond
of $500 to indenify the borough If it
should sustain any damage by reason
of the injunction.
General Manager Silliman and Mo-
torrSn Michael Lynch swore to afti-
davits in connection with the injunc-
ton. That of Mr.. Lynch is an inter-
esting one and is as follows:
Lackawanna County, S.:
Michael Lynch, being duly sworn, de-
poses and SAYS: I am a motorman In the
employ of the Scranton Traction COM
pany. on the morning of Nov. II. 1896, l
was running a car on what is known as
the Taylor line. I left Scranton to go to
Taylor about $50 o'clock in the morning
before daylight. Before reaching the
northerly line of the borough of Taylor.
there is a heavy down grade and sharp
curve at the bottom which prevents a