The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-28
GRAHAM CONVICTED
Jury Find Him Guilty of
Assau1ting a Consoli.
dated Traction Com
pany Conductor.
FIGHT OYER 4 FARE FROM NEWARK
Witnesses Say "Caplain Jack"
Punched the Conductor in
the Eye and Side.


Captain jack Graham was yesterday
afternoon convicted by a jury in the
Court of General Sessions of smuggling a
ondueto of q trolley car on the Newark
turnpike line. The conductor is Henry
Trenchard. of No. GIL Harrison avenue.
Harrison, and Captain Jack was tried for
assault and battery on him.. Graham was
defended by Lawyer Alexander Simpson,
hut the case was SO clear that even that
bright young lawyers ingenuity and luck
could not save his client.
Assistant Prosecutor. Noonan, in his
opening address to the jury. said that
Graham and a friend got on a turnpike
car in Newark. They had transfer tickets
which were good TO carry them to a GER
tain point at or near Harrison. After
passing that point the conductor asked
forstheir fare. Jack refused to pay and
began to abuse the conductor, but his
friend. who was his brother Peter. paid
the fares in order to avoid trouble. That
fare was sufficient to carry them TO the
Hackensack bridge. and unless they want
ed TO walk to- Jersey City the rules OF
the company required them to pay an
other fare. The conductor asked them
for the additional fare at the bridge. but
both refused to pay. Peter had appar-
emily by that time imbibed some of Jacks
belligerent spirit. The conductor did not
insist upon payment, because he had be-
come somewhat intimidated and preferred
TO stand the loss himself rather than have
any trouble. The conductor is a slim
built, delicate looking man. while Captain
Jack. as is well known, is q big burly fell
49, -s<h al. = n Of = nprSA When /
the car reached the Five Corners it was
stopped to let TWO ladies and some chill
dren get off. Conductor Trenchard went
up to the front-it was an open car-to
assist them in alighting. When he re-
turnsd, Jack Graham, who had left the
car, struck him two powerful, singing
blows, one under the right eye and the
ether in the side. A scene of great ex-
element ensued and two policemen ar
rived. Graham ordered them to arrest
Trenchard, but as they learned from
and eye-witnesses that Graham
was the aggressor they arrested him,
Trenchard told his story on the witness
stand yesterday clearly and with evident
truthfulness. He testified that on the
afternoon of May 81, Memorial Day,
al Market and Broad street, Newark.
They had transfer tickets which We're
good to Frank Creek.
After passing the creek" he continued,
Il asked them for their fare. Jonn
Graham refused to pay. He said the
transfers were good TO the Hackensack
His brother finally paid the fares TO the
Hackensack bridge. job Graham pulled
me up from the footboard and abused me
them for another fare, but they both then
refused TO pay.I didn't say anything more
TO them because I thought the easiest
the Five Corners I went up to the front
10 assist some ladies and children who
were getting of. When 1 came back
on ths street aaa MS G PrGlhaf w ssId, s sThis Is
where we get square with you, and
me twice, once under the eye and
around and two policemen came along
and arrested him. My eye was black
and blus for several lays
to strike 6ai him s asked I LAWYER E[seai sim NM
son, on cross examination.
NO. sir; l did not" replied the wit
ness.
Didn't you swear at him and cali him
vile names?" asked the lawyer, mention
lIg the names which are not MT for pub
No. sir: I don't use such names"
Didn't you say anything to himT'
II called him a big buffer"
Didn't you grab him by the coat and
No sir, 1t would be ridiculous for me
% try to put that man off,"
Wei, didn't you kick him as he was
on the carp continued Lawyer
mo. sir, I didn't touch him."
William Tilton, the motorman. testified
hat he saw Graham strike the conductor
The witness; went back and the
irahams made a threatening movement
-oWard him. He went back and got his
witch iron. The Grahams seized the
ron and tried to pail it ava from him.
Henry Winston and George Miller also
roubie and saw Giraham strike the con-
luctor twice. i.
Henry Wiston and George Muller also |
'aw the blows struck. q
The defendant then took the stand and l
lenied positively under oath that he /
abused him during the. whole I
rip and called him a big buffer several L
mes. HIS Feelings must have been fright I
nliy iacerated- de also swore that the :
didn't ask for a second fare. ;
forced the witness and his brother to h
axe two tickets for New York when 5
1ey didn't want them and it was only i
tier a great deal OF persuasion that they :
1duced the conductor to take the nickels
ack and return the money to Peter. L
ack said that when he was getting off o
ne car t~heruf1aply conductor Kicked him
l the leg. All he did in retaliation was a
!, catch the conductors foot and the v
1nductor fell over him. a
Peter Graham told a story somewhat +
lmilar to the one told by the defendant. i
kept that he dwelt impressive1y on the q
forbearance displayed by Jack Ii
nder such extreme provocation. The a
according to Peters story. p
bused Jack shamefully q profanely on D
re entire trip. He used language that
lade Peter shudder and his blood run o
I'D. ar u
Il never saw Jack take so much abuse V
ON anybody said Peter, and I know ii
hat he has done before" a
He did not see Jack strike the conduc- Il
II, as his attention was otherwise en-
aged The witness explained that he t
Id Jack tried to take the switch iron e
the motorman in order to keep it e
evidence. Il
A. Donnelly testified tha he saw Il
Ie ~onductor grab the defendant by the ii
and heard him use bad language. e
onnelly left the car at the Delaware, v
.ackawanna and Western Railroad fl
ossing, and did not see the trouble al II
e Five Corners. ii
Miss MarEsHayward testified thai She il
.ard Graham say that the conductor "
ID kicked him. She did not see ii.
After celebrating for about two hours n
e jury returned with a verdict of guilty u
charged.
0pprp nOHr SaUr uTn sc