The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-04
TROUBLES OF THE AUroIsT.
Thumped and Forced to Pay Excessive
 Fees by a County Constable.

Thumped and Forced to Pay Excessive
 Fees by a County Constable.
 St. Louis automobilists who have re- gently toured the State tell amazing stories of fee-grabbing stunts on the part of rural Missouri officials in cer- tain localities. These men, according to the tourists, have taken advantage of the prejudice against motor vehi- cles prevailing among the farmers to line their own pockets and make life a burden for the unfortunate automo- bilist from the city.
 James E. Morse of the Halsey Auto mobile Company recently made busi- ness trip up the State. It was devoid of causalties or unusual incidents un- til just before reaching Wentzyille. i There MT. Morse, who was accompanied by Ed Doyle, his machinist, was over- taken by drenching rain. The ma- chine was stopped, and a farmer sitt- ing on the piazza of a farmhouse was asked if the travellers might avail themselves of the shelter of his roof. The farmer swelled up and ordered them off his grounds and vigorously denounced them and any one lese who rode in such contrivances.
 Glad to get out of range of his invec- tives, the travellers continued their journey to Jonesburg, in Montgomery county, about 100 miles distant from St. Louis.
 ] The wayfarers took dinner at a hostelry which is run by one of the town officers Mir. Morse says that the meal, for which they were charged 50 cents apiece, was all that could be asked, and that they were royalty en- tertained by their host. After paying their bill, Mir. Morse was asked if he had county license for his automo- bile. He replied that lie had not, but intended taking 5ut a licence at Mont gomery, the county seat.
 You're d--liar," retorted the official, burly giant over six feet high, according t6 Morse. T am re- uuired to collect this county license, and you can bet I am going to collect it right here and now" 2 MT. Morse did not remonstrate further but agreed to pay the license, asking for receipt for his money. The Ildu SCIdNieu Oll eb iSSS'PS NS@ $S5O. 4'
 My dear man" said Mr, Morse, 'this is not right, The license is on- ly ,$2.5O in other counties, which in- cludes the 50-cefit fee.''
 "I don't care a d-what it is in other counties; it's $S.5O here," snarled his host. Morse refused to pay it, whereupon, he says, the minion of the law grabbed the receipt from his hand and tore it into bits, saying he would see whether it would be paid or not. Going to the telephone, he called up the pro- scouting attorney at Montgomery City, telling him that Morse absolutely re- fused to pay the license. Morse, who was in hearing distance, grabbed the receiver from his hand, and said that it was not so, stating that he refused to pay $S.5O for license, but did not refuse to buy one at the proper price, Do you mean to call me a liarT' shouted the big fellow, catching Morse by the throat and striking him in the face several times. Morse and his ma chirist dared not retaliate, as the man was armed with a revolver. A crowd of grinning villagers and farmers was gathered around by this time, shouting encouragement to the home talent. The hotel man returned to the phone and, calling up the prosecuting attorney