The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-12

Thomas c. Melvin, proprietor OF the
st. Charles hotel of Penn avenue, Sc
leCt councilman of the Eighth ward,
and father of the water rate ordiu-
ance now before councils, was yester-
day made the defendant by the Scran-
ton Gas and Water company in an
action in assumpsit brought bef IRE AL
derman Howe to recover certain water
rents.
The statement in the case prepared
by I. II. Burns, attorney for the
company, is an unique document.
1t sets forth the plaintiffs cause of
action in the following language:
Plaintiff is a corporation engaged in
furnishing water to the citizens of the
city of Scranton, and among others to
one Thomas G. Melvin, proprietor of
the st. Charles hotel. On the service
pipes leading from the street mains to
the hotel is a meter designed to show
the quantity of water used each month
by the defendant On the first of No
vember 1899, the meter showed a regis
ter of 1880 cubic feet. indicating IN
gallons per foot. On the first of De-
cember, 1899, in the usual course of
events, the figures on the meter should
have shown a larger number according
to the amount of water used by the
hotel.
PECULIAR METER.
Such, however, was not the case. The
figures on the meter registered Decem-
Der l, 1899, were $751; showing that not
only had the plaintiff company not fur
nished any water to the hotel, but that
1t had actually received from the hotel
7,O13 cubic feet of water, being equal
to 52,597 gallons. This can only be eX-
planned in one of two ways: either
there has been pumped into the COM
pany's mains from the hotel 52,597 gall
Ions of water or the defendant or his
agents or employees have during the
month of November unscrewed the
meter and reversed it so that the water
going through the pipes would register
backward instead of forward on the
meter.
The result as shown by the meter is
that for the month of November, the
company owes Mr. Melvin the sum OF
$l0.52. Plaintiff is aware that there is
pending in councils an ordinance to re-
duce water ratio, but did not suppose
that it went so far as to reverse them
and compel the company to pay cash
to consumers for the privilege of fur
nshing them with water, even though
they might be city officials.
On the other hand, If it be fact that
52,597 gallons of water have been
pumped from the st. Charles hotel into
the company's mains the plaintiff de-
sires to be informed of the quality Of
the water source of supply and charges
for the same. At present the plaintiff
Is unable to say whether she owes Mr..
Melvin or Mr.. Melvin owes the COM
pany. Wherefore she brings this suit
to ascertain whether plaintiff is fur
nishing water to the defendant or de-
fendant to plaintiff.
HEARING FRIDAY.
The hearing in the case has been
| set down for Friday of this week be-
tween and 10 o'clock in the morn
| ing.
Mr. Melvin when seen yesterday re-
| garding the matter said he knew alb
| solutely nothing about the meter's al
legged pranks and that he had only
| seen 1t CnCe.
He stated that the idea of holding
| him responsible for it was absurd and
that he would be on hand Friday
| morning with his attorneys, O'Brien
and Kelly, to defend himself