The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-16
THE FIRST ARRESTS.
Police Judge Cox One of Those Elected
from Cars.

The announcement in the Journal yester-
day morning that the proclamation of the
Governor had been made and that the
Observation-Disclosures law was in force
set scores of people to talking on the ques-
ton over their coffee cups as they sat at
breakfast, and the result was that many
men decided to ride. at least try to
ride down town to business for three-cent
fare. OF course, most of them were not
successful. Many were forcibly elected.
Others paid the usual nickel with a sigh,
but mentally resolved to get even and
quietly made note of the conductors
number when his name was not known, as
well as the names of friends and acquaint-
ances who were witnesses to the open vio-
lations of the law.
Some passengers who read the section of
the law which gives to every injured citi-
zen the right to collect 800 damages when
required to pay more than the legal fare
at once consulted their attorneys with re-
gard to bringing civil actions for damages.
Suits will likely be filed to-day. Others de-
cided to appeal to the police authorities for
the punishment of the offending employees
of the Citizens Street-railroad Company
Merle Walker, state prosecutor in Police
Court. was besieged all day by persons
wanting TO make affidavits for the arrest
of conductors who had violated the law
and laid themselves liable to a fine of not
less than $50 nor more than $780, Among
the first of not less than twenty-five to
apply to Mr.. Walker was Simon Miller, of
% Holmes avenue, Haughville, who said
that Charles Phelps, conductor on the
Haughville line, had refused to accept
cents when rendered and had forcibly eject
pH frovx n hie A for
Phelps's arrest was placed in the hands of
the police. He will be in Police Court this
morning. This is the only case in which
an affidavit for the arrest of conductor
for refusing to accept cents was issued
yesterday, although there Is case for as
sault and battery against III. Robbins, q
ed Hector Fuller and William r Williams.
of the News reportorial staff, from his car.
An affidavit was at once procured for Rob-
bins's arrest and an officer boarded his car
on its return trip and read the warrant to
him. lie was not taken from his post, but
was notified to appear in Police Court this
morning Mr.. Walker will have the af-
fidavit in this case changed this morning
to make it cover the violation Of the three
cent-fare law instead or assault and bat
terry. The prosecutor advised others who
had good cases to wait a few days until
some disposition is made of these cases.
PHELPS CASE TEST.
A test will be made of the Phelps case
Yesterday afternoon w. III. Latta, repre-
senting the Citizens Street-raiIroad Com
pany. called on Mr.. Walker and procured
copy of the warrant. at the same time filing
notice that the company would make mo-
ton to quash. 1t will take some time to pre-
pare the arguments on the motion 10 quash
and Mr. Walker anticipates that 1t will be
set down for hearing in two or three days
possibly Saturday afternoon. He asked Mr.
Latta why the company insisted on fight
ing the case i'm Police Court. Mr. Walker
suggested that the company would save
time and avoid innumera BILE actions by
making up an agreed case of facts and sub
mitting il TO the court above. Mr. Latta