Crittenden press., 1902-01-23
THEY MADE A KILLING.

Representatives of the Validating once
Capture n Score of scalpers' Tickets.
The biggest capture OF scalpers' tick
cts since the exposition opened was
made yesterday afternoon at the At
antic Coast Line depot, when nearly
4 score of "rich" tickets we're confls-
Gated by representatives Of the Joint
Validating Agency. 1t was regular
killing" for the validating Office and
the way in which the trick was turned
staggered and demoralized the scalp
ers, who were at the depot trying to
get their goods accepted. The capture
was important from a railroad stand
point, and 1t demonstrated the fact
that the joint agency has the scalping
situation we'll in hand.
A week ago a number of experts
we're sent to Charleston to assist Mr..
w. M. Bennett, the joint agent, and
their presence was not discovered by
the cut-rate dealers until yesterday aft
ernoon, when the bunch Of tickets was
captured. The agency has kept close
watch on all transportation sold into
Charleston, and II was found yester-
day that many New York tickets had
drifted into the Offices of the dealers
here.
Just how the validating force got on
to the game was not made public, al
though the developments we're unique.
Mr.. Bennett and Mr.. Browne went to
the depot an hour before the train for
New York was scheduled to leave here
and In few minutes all gates lead
Ing to the trains we're closed. Mr.. Ben
nett was acting gateman when the first
"scalping' passenger appeared. When
he presented his transportation 1t was
Immediately held up, and not much OF
kick was registered. The passenger
realized that he had been caught.
When the others appeared at the gate
they were treated in the same manner,
and In a few moments Mr.. Bennett
had con6scated FIVE New York, two
Washington, one New Orleans, two
Atlanta and a handful Of tickets to
other points. Several of the losers
were inclined to kick. The scalper
from whom the tickets had been pur.
chased was In the depot, surrounded
by a small crowd Of people, who were
said to have been supplied with his
goods. The killing" at the gate, how
ever, frightened them, and they did
not attempt to run the blockade. The
travellers who had been relieved of
their cut-rate transportation did not
lose time in buying legitimate tickets.
although several of them could not get
out OF town because of financial en-
barrassment.
While number of the exposition
tickets validated yesterday were not
presented, there Is no way in which
they can be used hereafter, as they
all bore the stamp December IA" In
addition to this date, there was q
stamp showing the number of the
train on which they were good. This
makes the entire outfit void.
Passenger officials said last night
that the good work of the validating
force was the best protection the rail-
roads could possibly secure. THE
scalpers have been driven to the last
ditch" said a passenger man, "and
the travelling people are beginning to
learn nov that 1t Is not safe to at
tempt to use other than legitimate
tickets. There is no way In which the
scalpers can beat the railroads with.
out being caught, and dealers In their
cut-rate goods are the ones to suffer
n the end."-News and Courier.
8. c., Dec. Is, 1901.