The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-02
FOR WORKING
AT NIGHT
[. F. Duggan Fined 500 in
Police Court.
BUILT TELEPHONE LINES
In -, in South Part of
Town.
BUILT TELEPHONE LINES

L. F. Duggan was fined 800 in police
court yesterday afternoon, for doing cleo
trical construction work within the city
limits without permit from the city
electrician. Mr.. Duggan and eight en-
pioyes Of the Missouri and Kansas Tele-
Ehone company were arrested about u
o'clock yesterday morning for putting up
poles and stringing wires in the alley be-
tween Main and Water streets. in the
eighth and ninth blocks south Of Douglas.
and also for doing the same work IN the
rev wholesaie district on South Wichita
street
The Missouri and Kansas Telephone
Company were accused by the city With
Getting the poles and stringing the wires
during the night. and the witnesses eI-
amined by the court seemed to bear out
ttese statements.
The men arrested yesterday besides Mr..
Duggan, were Sam Herbert, Arthur Nc
Lery. .. r. Covey. Tom webb, Hugh
Nichols. J. Il. Snyder and VIM. Pedigo.
All Of the men were taken TO the police
station and locked IN the Jan and kePc
there for more than an hour until Judge
Stanley showed up, when the men were
crraigned and then released or their own
FecogniLa1ce 70 appear az 1 o'clock yes
terday afternoon.
When court was called, Ernest Shields
zho lives Ct 500 South Water street, tests-
fed that when he went to bed Monday
night no poles were erected in the alley
back of his home but when he got up,
about O'Clock. poles were standing ell
aleng that block and IN the next block
and wires were strung on the poles. He
thought there were ten or hfteen men
working in the alley. He stated that he
recognized Mr.. Dugsan and PedigO, wis
seemed TO be experimenting the work.
c. V Ferguson, who appeared for the
defense. did not ask the lad any questions
when City Attorney Helm was through
questioning him.
E. D. Davis. who lives at SO South Main
street. stated that no poles were get up
the night before. but when he arose yes
terday morning there were a number Of
poles set in thu alley both north and
south OF his house, and TWO wires We're
strung on the poles. Some Of the tools
the men used were leaning against his
barn when he went to feed his horse. He
saw ten or fifteen men working at ths
poles about quarter past 6 clock.
Freeman Vandeventer lives at ST South
Main street. and when he arose yesterday
morning he noticed twelve or fifteen poles
standing in the alley that were not there
the night before. The poles extended for
two blocks. He also saw the men put up
che OF the wires and pointed out hr. /
ruggsn and Mr. Pedigo as the men who |
seemed 10 be experimenting the work.
J. Il. Shields. who lives at SOP South /
Water street, was the last witness called 1
He noticed the poles lying on the ground /
Monday evening. but they we're standing |
yesterday morning when he got up. He /
talked with Mr. Pedigo about filing up |
the gutter in the street and MI. Pedigo I
had one Of his men clean out the gutter. /
He thought that about ten man were 4
working putting up the poles and wires. /
ard that the work was done during the /
tight.
The defense had no evidence 10 offer,
md Mr.. Ferguson made short argI-
rlent. He claimed that the wires We're
not connected. and that II was not cleo
trical construction voriS. From his read
ing Of the ordinance under which the men
were arrested, DuiItilS Teicpnole mes
could not be clsssed as electrical con-
struction work He claimed that the or
6.nance applied only 10 the building OF
iires that carried power and light from
which ere might originate. and that \
telephone line did not carry an electrical
current but was worked by a magnetic
current from which there was no danger
OF Are.
Mr. Helm laid great stress on the fact
that the company had worked its men
during the night. and at hours when most
la borers were ssleep and refuted the ar
Euments OF thu attorney for the de-
tense
Judge Stanley. after a short review Of
the evidence. fned Mr.. Duggan 800 and
the defense Immediately gave notice Of
an appeal The other cases were CON
tnued until o'clock this morning. Each
o. the men have demanded a separate
trial. and the case VIII probably drag In
roIce court for day OF two. In the
meantime the police department Is swat
ing orders from the city attorney TO tear
down she poles and wires put up yester
day morning. Chief Burt stated yesterday
thst II the city attorney would oFder II
b would send ont his men and take
Gown the wires and poles in the alleys
but he could do nothing until the ottor-
rey ordered them 20 60 50.