The Topeka state journal., 1902-03-28
LOST HIS JOB.
Henry O'Brien, Santa Fe Fire
man, Claims He is Prosecuted.
Charged With Marrying a Negro
Woman.
HE DENIES 1T ALL.
Much Mystery Surrounds the
Marriage in Question.
taken Identity.

There is much excitement among San
ta Fe shop employees and trainmen over
the case of a locomotive fireman, Henry
O'Brien Because it was alleged that
he married a colored woman after hav-
ing had two white wives, who are both
dead, O'Brien who lives at 20S Adams
street, has lost his job, and according to
his own statement has been forbidden
to enter the Topeka shops or yards of
the company under threat of mob vio-
/ lence- In retaliation for the wrongs,
which he claims have been done him,
O'Brien declares he will bring suit
against the local branch of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen on the
charge of blacklisting.
The claim of those who have object
ed to O'Rrien's remaining in the service
of the railroad is that he went to Law
renee March Is secured a license to
wed Maria Northington, a colored wo-
man who had done the family washing
and housework while his second wife
lay sick, and after returning to Topeka,
had the ceremony performed. As soon
as they learned of this one of the fire.
men began gathering evidence to ascer-
tain whether or not the charges were
true. He went to Lawrence, found the
license and such other facts as led him
to believe that all the allegations could
be substantiated. Then the master me-
chanic of this division was notified of
it and directed that he be held from
service until he had consulted with the
story, hearing that his comfort had been
threatened, by talk of tarring and
feathering, Thursday morning went to
the general offices and drew his time.
So far as the railroad men are concern
ed, this seems to be the termination Of
the incident
O'Brien, however, denies the charge
in full He says that it is all part
of scheme to work him out of his
place because of troubles arising from
the A. r. U. strike in 1894. He says
that at that time he was deputized by
United States Marshal Neely to help
preserve order apd the property of the
company in its Struggle with the en-
ployes who had been let out. He was
detailed by the authorities to go over
the line from Kansas City to Dodge
City, and in the discharge of his duties
at Newton he had occasion to arrest
a man named Fletcher, a brotherhood
fireman. From then until now" said
O'Brien, this matter has been talked
about. Fletcher made the threat that
he was going to use powder on a train,
and 1 arrested him. being compelled in
the Scuff1e which enSued to break his
arm with blow from six-shooter.
He was taken to Leayenworth and
given a seven months Jail sentence. /
know nothing about this charge except
that there is no truth in it,"
The couple, which came to Topeka
from Lawrence, were married by A. b.
Stoner, of 911 North Taylor street, pas
tor of a Baptist church on the South
side. There is a strange agreement of
the names of the man who really was
one Of the principals and the one who
denies it. Fireman O'Brien says his
only name is Henry, while the city di-
rectory gives a Louis O'Brien and his
address the same as that of the rail-
road man, 20S Adams street. Rev.
executed was for Louis F. O'Brien.
Fireman O'Brien was taken before
Stoner this morning, and the minister
refused to identify him positively, al
fhnII Ierh he 1orI1f hn rI,or1
he performed marriage ceremony the
night of March Is and the man before
him resembled each other. Stoner says
the Northington woman came from
Usage City, but her home is in Ten
nessee. He was sure that the man was
white
John Northington, colored man liv-
ing on East Twenty-third street. Is a
brother of the woman who seems to
have made the trouble, and it was in
his house that the wedding took place.
Her name was formerly Jackson, but
she has been divorced from her first
husband several years. Northington
and his wife both insist that their sis
ter's spouse was half or three-quarters
colored according to his own statement,
and they say he looked it. Mrs. North
ington testified that he was a real
starchy" sort of fellow and from other
remarks she was evidently much elated
at the new acquisition to the family.
All agree that the O'Brien man came
from Lake View, SO far as they remem-
ber, and it is thought he has a sister a
teacher in that locality. Where they
went not even the nearest relatives here
are able to tell.
Members of the local Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen say that the organ
ization, as such, had nothing to do with
the difficulty resulting in Fireman
O'Brien's loss of his place. 1T was sim
ply the principle of the N an declared
a member. that they would not stand
for any such outrage. We investigated
the case fully and are willing to stand
by what we have done"
Henry O'Brien, who ended his service
with the Santa F'e, has been here since
September, 1897 He worked for awhile
in the roundhouse and after a time
went firing in yards. Since he has been
on the road considerab BILE, though sick
ness and misfortune he says have play
ed a strong hand against him. His
first wife was killed by Union Pacific
train at Silver Lake nine years ago and
his second lay on sick bed four years.
He was a member of the Twentieth
Kansas, previous to which time he be-
longed to the Seventh cavalry, regulars.
He exhibits two scars that he says were
inflicted by Indians in the battle of
Wounded Knee, S. d. His father is