The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-26
Mr.. Sebastian of Rock Island
Not I'm Topeka.
Lawyers Make Vain Efforts to
Serve Papers.
An OLD LAW SUIT.
Action That Grew Out of
Boom Transaction.
Railroad Official Too Clever for
the Summons Server.

John Sebastian, general passenger
| traffic manager of the Rock Island
| system, of Chicago, does not tarry in
Kansas, state he is warmly devoted
to and the state of his early railroad
experiences.
Mr.. Sebastian has been with the
Rock Island inspection party headed
by Chairman L. F. LOree and Presi-
dent B. F. WincheH but left the party
| at Denver to go to Chicago before the
start was made for the trip over the
Kansas division of the road.
Upon reaching Denver Friday night
after the trip over the David Moffat
scenic route and short line to Salt
Lake City, Mr.. Sebastian said that he
would return at once to Chicago, the
Denver News announcing that the af-
fairs of his Office precluded his further
absence The Rock Island special
train with the other high officials on
board passed through Topeka today
without Mr.. Sebastian.
1t was known to few in Topeka
that Mr.. Sebastian would probably ex-
cuse himself from his party and not
pass through this city before the an
nouncement at Denver of the rush of
business at his Chicago office.
If he had passed through Topeka
with the Rock Island party, he would
have been met at the train by Sheriff
A. T. Lucas with a summons issued
against him to appear in the Shawnee
county district court to answer the pc
tition of A. H. Moffatt of Kansas City,
Mo-, who claims that Mr.. Sebastian is
indebted to him in the sum of $4,385.
OF course Mr.. Sebastian's side of the
story is not known in Topeka, but it is
safe to say he has one.
This action against Mr.. Sebastian
was begun in the Shawnee county dis
trict court in June of this year by
Waters & Waters, representing A. H.
Moffet.
During the boom days in the sos
Mr.. Sebastian and Mr.. Moffet, who was
also at that time the Kansas City rep
resentative of the Rock Island, entered
into d plan to boom East Abilene,
Kansas. For the purpose of carrying
out their project they went on joint
note at the First National bank of
Hutchinson, Kansas, to secure a loan
of $1,000. The company went the
route of many other boom companies
and nothing was ever realized.
Meantime Mr.. Sebastian removed to
Chicago and Mr.. Moffet was held for |
the payment of the entire sum of the |
note at the Hutchinson bank, says the |
local attorneys. |
The attorneys for the plaintiff have |
sought on four different occasions by |
garnishment summons issued against |
the Rock Island railroad to find funds |
due to Mr.. Sebastian. To each of these
garnisnMents the railroad has answered |
that at the time they were served with /
the summons that they werei in no wise |
to Mr.. Sebastian.
Unless some disposition is made of |
otherwise, it is extremely likely that
neither Topeka nor Kansas may have
the opportunity to entertain Mr.. Sebas-
tan again.
Mr.. Sebastian is we'll known and adj
nired in Topeka and all over Kansas.
He was formerly with the Santa F'e
department. Afterward he
vent with the Rock Island and was |
steadily promoted until he is now at |
he head of the passenger traffic of the
Rock Island system. He invented. the
coupon ticket in use by practically ev-
cry railroad and patented it. His roy
alties from this source every year are
to be very large.
A peculiar coincidence is the fact that
Mr.. Sebastian enjoyed a particularly
pleasant trip with his associates among
me officials of the railroad over the
Moffat railroad in Colorado, but he
doubtless had an uneasy thought of the
other Moffet who was waiting for him
over in Kansas. 1t is a source of deep
Sebastian feels that he must evade them
lere.
The suit against Mr.. Sebastian in the
Shawnee county district court is to get
Judgment against him for the amount
which it is alleged is due. If he ever
comes within the boundary of the state
If Kansas where the summons may be
served upon him, the case may be taken
o trial, and if a judgment is secured,
t is understood to be collectable in any
part of the United States.
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