Evening star., 1900-10-25
DECISION AGAINST RAILWAY
QUESTION OF TRANSFERS BEFORE
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
Exaction Of Extra Fare and Refusal
to Transfer Upon Transfer
The Verdict.

Justice Hewlett today awarded L. M.
Humphreys one cent damages against the
Metropolitan Railway Company, five dollars
to Robert H. Coward against the City and
Suburban Railway Company and five cents
to ]. Altheus Johnson against the Colunl-
bia Railway Company, each of whom al
legged he had had a car fare Illegally ex-
acted from him on a transfer. The rail-
way companies are also assessed the costs
in each case.
The full particulars of Mr.. Cowards case.
who was represented by Mr.. g. D. Truitt.
have been already published in The Star.
The evidence was to the effect that Mr..
Humphreys. who was represented by Mr..
]. Altheus Johnson. boarded a west-going
Metropolitan car at I'd and D streets north
west, paid his fare, and on nearing 9th
street asked for transfer to the 9th street
line of company going south. The conduc-
tor refused to issue it, saying the rule was
that transfers must be asked for when the
fare is paid. Mr.. Humphreys. In bringing
suit, laid his damage at 500, but no special
damage of any kind was shown in evidence
at the trial. Indeed. Mr.. Humphreys did
not continue his journey, but went into the
office OF the company at 9th and f streets,
where there was some talk over the re-
fusal to grant transfer. He went from
there to the office of justice Of the peace,
where he filed his suit.
the City and Suburban road boarded an
east-going Columbia car at H and North
Capitol streets. He wished to go to the
eastern terminus of the road at Chesapeake
Junction, but the car he was on stopped at
18th street east, and the conductor refused
to give him transfer to a car then coming
up in the rear which went on to the juno
ton, saying the rule was No transfer on
a transfer" The conductor OF the other
car, which Mr.. Johnson boarded in con-
tinuation of his ride, exacted another fare.
Mr.. Johnson brought suit, laying his dam
age at five cents. the cost Of the fare which
he believed the road had illegally subjected
him to.
In speaking of the matter today Mr..
johnson said:
"The laying of damage in case Of this
kind at five cents was so unusual thing
that the attorney for the road Mr.. D. w.
Baker. wanted to know why did The
demand having been for less than So the
judgment of the justice of the peace is
final in the matter. The road Is therefore
in position to cast up accounts and see Row
1t stands in this transaction. 1t collected
one fare "a ticket, 1-6 cents). 1t pays
back cents and pays the costs Of the suit.
which will be not less than $3.50, the equiv
alent of eighty-four fares
Additional Testimony to BE Introduce
cd.
At a later hour today judgments In the
above cases were set aside to enable the
street car companies to introduce testimony
in their own behalf, the judgments having
been entered on the assumption that the
attorney for the street car companies had
submitted the cases for decision on the
testimony produced by the plaintiffs. On
the statement of the attorney that he de-
sired to offer some additional evidence in
behalf of the defendants, Justice Hewlett
consented to reopen the cases, and fixed
Thursday next at o'clock pm. to hear
further evidence.