The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25
GETTING HURT HIS BUSINESS.
Rascars Ingenious Schem for WORK.
ing Railroads Discovered.
Boston Transcript.

Serving a term for vagrancy I'm the house
of correction is a man who Is likely TO nave
a lively time OF 1t when ne comes out again,
as the representatives of some fifty street
railways are anxious TO have him put away
where he can do no more harm Tor some
that end He IS said to be one of the sharp
est Of the trlcksters who are always trying
to get ahead of the railroad and railway
eompani of ,p ana; so Il lar un, as = and d1 has pro 81.
ably Melted him a handsome income ior
some years.
Probably his first experience In the imme-
date vicinity of Boston was about two
months ago, when he boarded q car on tho
Quincy and Boston Railroad. He rode some
little distance, and then attempted to get
off. but when he did so the corner rail, by
which passengers hold in descending from
the car. came off, I'm his hand. and he fell
condition and carried to the offices OF tho
company In Quincy. where he recovered con-
seriousness. but was for some little time APP
cred. and the claim agent of the company
at once called upon him to make q settle
ment of damages. The claim was at length
naiS' as It was apparently a case OF direct
liability on their part, and the cost OF tax
ing the matter into court would ave been
About a week ago Mr.. Weeks, of the
Quincy & Boston, received q letter from the
manager of the Framingham street-rafiWay,
skins about the accident, and stating that
one had occurred on their road. which. on
Comparison. was found to have been exactly
similar.
Then all the roads near Boston were COM
municated with, and II was found that on .
large proportion Of them a man had been re-
Gently injured by the pulling out Of the cora
ner rail when he was getting on the carr
The representative of the birmingham COM
pany had the man arrested. and on visiting
his room the police found a pair OF pliers
wound with rope, so that II could be carried
In the sleeve without slipping; a wrench. q
screw driver and other tools. all bearing EVIL
dence of having been used on brass work.
When the man was brought into court there
were present representatives OF about twen-
ty street railways I'm the vicinity OF Boston.
each OF whom recognized the mar az the
victim Of an accident" on his line, due to
the pulling out Of the corner rail, but a.
there had been no time to prepare evidence
against him he was committed on the
charge Of v~agrancy.
His method of operation was apparently
TO board a car, preferably on some suburban
line. stand on the platform until the con-.
ductor entered the car. when he would un-
fasten the screws or nuts holding the corr
ner rail in place. and soon after stop the car
and do his little character sketch OF falling
off and becoming unconscious and afterWard
delirious. He always compromised for q
comparatively small amount. thus prevents
ing his name from being brought before the
public I'm court, and TO make things doubly
sure always gave a different name on every
road. In this way he was able to vfctimfze
roads only a short distance apart. and, In
fact. on the day of the arrest he had sue
cessfully performed another accident" On =
road In the same town