The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-13
COPPERS DISPLEASED
FRICTION BETWEEN THEM AND
STREET RAILWAY MEN.
Order Denying Free Rides to Officers
Not n Full Uniform the
Cause Of the Trouble.
Police Case Made.

More or less friction exists between the
policemen of the city and the street car
motormen and conductors, and, as re-
suit of it, two of the latter, r. j. Eilard
and j. NJ Smith. have been hauled into
the Recorders Court.
The trouble began when, some time
since, General Manager Raphael Semmes
notified Chief OF Police Gerald that from
the date of the communication free
Transportation would not be allowed any
policeman who was not in full uniform.
Upon receiving the notice the Chief adj
yised his men of the fact and of its pur-
port, and forthwith there followed dis
satisfaction.
Last Monday afternoon, says story
told in the Police Court by Eilard ana
Smith, Oficer Sheally boarded a car, the
car Eiland and Smith were running, and
settled himself Afor ride The ohicer
was by no means In full uniform at the
time, said the Police Court defendants,
and observing that fact, the conductor,
Smith, acting according to Instructions
from the general managers office, APP
preached the copper and asked him for
| one five-cent piece.
The five-cent piece the copper. said the
street railway man, at first demurreq
about giving over. Finally. however, said
they, he relaxed, reached down into the
pocket of his civilian trousers, fished
therein a little while, at length drew
forth a coin of the specified denomination,
and presented 1t to the conductor, making
as he did so neat little presentation
speech whose burden and purport was
that he would get even with the street
car company before another sun had set.
Shortly after this important event
transpired darkness came on, and then,
of sudden. the apparatus which illu-
minated Eiland and Smiths car. failed
In its function. The trouble, whatever II
was, Messrs. Eiland and Smith were UNI
able to remedy, and being unable, they
brought the lightless car into town and
had one of the company's experts fix 1t.
Then they resumed the schedule.
AS they reached the center of the city,
after the next trip Messrs. Eiland and
Smith felt themselves suddenly laid hold
Of by the laws arresting hand. and
lightly swung into police headquarters,
and arriving there they, like a pair of
Belshazzars, saw the laws writing hand
inscribe upon the laws recording tablet
their respective names. and, opposite them
the charge of running trolley car after
dark without lights.
On Friday afternoon Messrs Eiland and
Smith were arraigned before the Recorder
to answer the charge of running a car
after dark without lights. and being ar
raigned, they beheld as witness against
them, Officer Sheally.
Called upon to defend themselves, the
street railway men told a story of which
the foregoing narrative is the substance,
and proved they had carried the lightless
trolley to the nearest place of repair; and,
upon the strength of the showing so
made, secured dismissal of the charge
against them.
Before and after and during the enact
ment of all this, coppe"s kicked Justify
about Mr.. Semmes's new order, and still
are doing so.
Chief Of Police Gerald has nothing to
say In regard to the friction and it's
cause further than Mr.. Semmes sent him
a notice to the effect that fare would
be collected from, all policemen not in
full uniform.
Mr.. Semmes made this notice in order
that the conductor might have no difficult
~ in ascertaining who were policemen.
The motormen and conductors say that
they are merely carrying out orders when
they insist on taking fare from the police
men in civilian dress, and that they hope
their old friends won't blame them,