The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-10
OF PHOTOGRAPHS.
EVIDENCE IN RAILWAY
DAMAGE SUITS.

Most Interesting Railway COIIec-
ton in the COuntry-TaIISs With
claim Agents-EffOrts of Unscrupu-
Ions Persons to ExtOrt Money From
Railway Companies.
From the st, Louis Globe-Democrat.
photography and it's manifold advan-
,ages as a means of collecting evidence
have suggested themselves to but few of
tba railroad claim agents and legal repre-
sentstives having their offices in st. Louis
careful inquiry fails to discover that any
road hut the Wabash has a complete gal
,erv" or system of securing photographs
IN cases of injury and the resultant per
sopal claim suits. The other companies
admitted that the idea was an excellent
ono and marveled at the fact that it had
not suggested itself to them The general
ho,ief is that a photograph, like figures,
..,ron,t lie" or, in any event, that discus
s;on of conditions or localities is made
out plainly in a photograph submitted to
the jury.
The instantaneous Photographic process
hos great possibilities in the way of show
ing the exact conditions after wreck or
lass serious accident. 1t is not improbable
mat in the near future trainmen will be
e,uinped with ''kodaks." The expert
mental stage has passed, and the claim
aqents of the various roads already cite
incidents in which the photograph has
proved invaluable.
The general superintendent of the Union
Pacific. Denver and Gulf road tells now,
yerv recently, his road won suit in which
a large sum was involved by the use OIL
photography. The litigation arose from
had collision at one of the gate CROSSINGS
in Denver A train of the Union PACING,
Denver and Gulf road was struck by
train of another road at the crossing. Inc
,;ulf road had the right of way, and when
an attempt was made to settle the matter
tbe onnosing road claimed that its train
was standing still at the crossing, ana
was struck by the Gulf train. The case
went to trial and early in the proceedings
the Gulf road produced photograpni;
showing the TWO trains amer 'ieS ia"
come together
The photographer who took the picture
testified as to the time when it was taken.
Previous testimony had developed tnat
the wreck had not been touched up 20 the
time the photograph was taken. It snow
cd that the Gulf train had been knocked
from its track, and the wreckage pushed
tn one side 1t also showed great scratches
on the sides of one of the least-damaged
of the cars, where a splintered timber had
crushed along D6SiuS H. Lie july
no further evidence of the fact that the
other train must have been moving at
high speed when it struck the Gulf tram.
The opposing road gave up the case, as
the introduction of the picture was so I'M
expected and convincing that the attor-
news were non-plused. Had 1t not peen IoF
the introduction of the picture, the whole
matter would have resolved itself into
question of veracity between two tram
crews. Claim agents declare that train
men will swear for their companies, de-
spite all that can be done to bring out
the truth. This was the case some years
ago, much more than at present, as tram
men realize that with the rich fund of eX
perience to draw on the truth can gener-
ally be obtained.
William E. Jones, claim agent of the
Missouri Pacific, relates an amusing incl
dent in which this tendency was demon
etrated He met the claim agent of an
other road, in attempting 70 adjust loss,
and found that the train crews of the two
roads made absolutely contradictory
statements In the case in question there
was no way to impeach either side. Fin
ally Mr. Jones said: 81 have decided that
both crews are awful liars, and now pro-
pose that we adjust the loss share and
share alike" His proposition was accept
ed
In his adjustment of claims Mr.. Jones
has found the photograph a valuable aid
Mr.. Jones declares that many people look
upon the railroads as legitimate prey for
all sorts of swndling schemes. He tells
of one of these, and says that similar
cases are numerous. In this one he re-
ceived a letter from a man in Ohio who
claimed that he had been injured in a
wreck at Upton, Mo-, and wanted dam
ages. The letter explained the exact ma
ture of the injuries, which consisted OF
a broken leg, fractured collar bone and
two broken ribs. Further correspondence
established the fact that the man claimed
TO have been riding on the fast mail out
of st. Louis, bound for Kansas CITY
Now Mr. Jones knew that the fast mail
had been wrecked at Upton in collision
with a freight train but not a passenger
train, as had been claimed by the claim
ant. He also knew that if anybody but
the trainmen and mail clerks was riding
on the fast mail he had no business there
the accident occurring before a passenger
car was attached to the fast mail train
The trainmen denied that any one was
on the train but themselves, and Mr.
Jones grew very suspicious of the man.
However, he visited Cincinnati, and met
the claimant at a hotel Deciding that
a single bold stroke would solve the
matter Mr. Jones coolly informed the
man that he was an impostor, and that
ii was his intention to bring the matter
before the postal authorities and have him
arrested on a charge of using the maiS
with intent to defraud. The bold stroke
proved successful. Iilc man ~ 49,
and confessed that the scheme to de-
fraud the company had been concocted by
Cincinnati attorney, who had read a
detailed account of the wreck IN the
GIobe-Democrat. His confession was tax
en- in the presence Of a notary and he
was allowed to go UNPUBLISHED.
Probably the most perfect photoSrapnlc
s,.ston, connected with railroad is in the
claim department of the Wabash railway
under the direction OF Henry A. Lloyd as
sistant secretary and general claim agent.
While photography as a means of secur-
tu. evidence in claim cases is new to many
Of the roads, the Wabash has been using
rast twelve wears. The wabash gallery
most interesting one. The road has
q staff of photographers which covers five
states. For a time it was thought advis-
able to have a saared staff OF photo6ra-
piers and locate them at Headquarters
but this was declared impractieable be-
cause they would be called for at points
far distant, and could not arrive until long
after an accident. The pictures are maze