The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-02
He ASKS FOR $4,000
F. w. Becker of MuIvane
Sues National Surety Co.
SAYS HE WAS BLACKLISTED
For Loss of Package for Which
He Was Not Responsible,

Yesterday E. E. Harvey of the law firm
of Huffman & Harvey, Wichita, brought
suit against the National Surety company
Of New York for $1,000 for F. H. Becker,
who claims he was blacklisted by the
company for the loss OF a, $500 package.
Becker is a railroad man and an operator
and alleges that while he was at work for
the Arkansas Pass Railway company at
Karnes City. Texas, the package worth
$500, belonging to the Wells-Fargo Express
company, for which he was agent, was
lost and that he was in no wise response
bic for the loss. The National Surety
company furnishes bonds for employees OF
the Sante Fe railroad and for the Wells
Fargo Express company. He says that
as a rule the railroad company will not
accept bonds of any other company. For
the loss Of the package at Karnes City,
Texas, Becker alleges in his petition,
which is on file in the district court Of
Sumner county, that said surety COM
pany wrongfully and maliciously coerced
this plaintiff 10y threats to have this
plaintiff discharged and by other intimi-
dalton to sign a. written statement con-
tanning substantially the following facts:
That the package of money above re-
ferred to was lost by reason Of this plain
tiffs negligence, and had not been for this
plaintiffs negligence said money would
not have been lost But the plaintiff AYERS
that had 1: not been for the threats and
intimidation Of said surety company this
plaintiff would never have signed said
statement.
Plaintiff further states that said state
ment was untrue and said National Surety
company then kenw 1t to be untrue, but,
nevertheless, said National Surety COM
pany has maliciously and wrongfully used
and publnshed such statement in seucrng
and published said statement in securing
the discharge Of this plaintiff in the sew
eral instances as above set out, and to
prevent plaintiff obtaining a bond or en-
ployment anywhere.
Plaintiff further states at the same
time he was forced as above stated to sign
the statement above alluded to this plain
tiff was compelled to give said National
Surety company, for the same reasons,
an order to the said San Antonio and
Arkansas Pass railway company to pay
the said National Surety company SIS a
month oirt of the salary of this plaintiff
until the sum Of $500 was paid that said
National Surety company has also wrong
fully and maicionsly used said order and
published the same IN order to, and in
procuring the discharge Of this plaintiff,
as complained of in this petiritno and
preventing his getting bond or employ
ment elsewhere. but plaintiff AYERS that
this plaintiff would never have signed
the said statement or the said order had
it not been for the fear of being dis
charged, caused by the said threats and
intimidation Of said National Surety COM
pany.
THAT this plaintiff IS railroad man
and a telegraph operator; that he has
spent the best part Of his life in that
business and educated himself to make
that his business during his whole life:
that he is untitled for any other business
and when unable to procure work at rail-
reading or as telegraph operator, he IS
necessarily losing money; and the tine,
money and laboI spent in educating him
self for his business as phi opera
tor and railroading. as this plaintiff can
not give bond in this or any other or
surety company because Of defendants
wrongful and malicious acts herein set
out; that by reason of his not being able
TO obtain and give bond in this or any
other bond or surety company this plain
tiff has been forced and compelled to give
up his business as railroad man and tele-
graph operator. and that he Will thus of
necessity lose the remuneration TO be de-
rived from his business, earned at so much
labor and expense to this plaintiff.
Plaintiff further alleges that bv rea-
son of the said malicious and wanton and
wrongful conduct on the part of the said
National Surety company, as herein stat
ed, the labor and expense Of procuring
his education and BETTING himself Tor
this business has been wasted and made
a dead loss TO this plaintiff.
Plaintiff further alleges that by reason
or the malicious and wrongful publication
OF the statement ana order herein de-
scrihed. and by reason of the above
wrongful and malicious interference IF
aoove-named defendant. and by reason Of
al premises herein above set out. and
by reason Of all said wrongful acts Of
said defendant, this plaintiff has been
discouraged from his employment and is
unable to obtain employment as above set
out to the damage Of this plaintiff in
the sum Of Si2,ol0."