The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-01-26
PERSONAL INJURY GRAFTERS.
Railroad Detectives Work in Damage Suits.
CAUGHT Shrewd Woman.

CAUGHT a Shrewd Woman.
The chief detective of great Southers&
railway system had adjourned to the
smoking compartment of the Pullman Tor
a final cigar before he climbed into his
upper berth. He had just finished a job
of clever sleuthing and was in atalkatlve
mood, which quickly brought the half
dozen other smokers to attention.
81 suppose in the beginning was sup
plied with as much confidence in human
nature as the average man." he began, as
he settled back into the cushions and put
his feet on chair, "but after spending
twenty years in finding out just how
much the truth is stretched every time
somebody sues the company for damages
for personal injuries there isn't much left
of it.
$ eI hadn't been wearing railroad gum
shoes very long before I was turned loose
on case where sixteen year old boy
wanted 100000 damages because ne was
deaf and dumb as the result OF railroad
wreck.
aI worked on the case for two years,
during which time the case was post
poned from one term of court to another,
until finally it had to be tried. The sum
total of all my knowledge was that the
boy haon't spoken nor apparently heard
word for two years.
sOn the morning of the trial I advised
the company's lawyers to settle for $780,
600, which they offered to do. The plain
tiff's counsel refused the offer, 50 the case
was called.
.sThe evidence was so completely one
sided that the case would certainly have
been finished and gone to the jury before
night. but at noon had an idea. Thought
that if we had one more day something
might turn up to save US. Iconferred with
the company's lawyer, and at about the
hour when the case was ready for the
Jury our leading attorney was taken sud-
denly i'll. The judge had no alternative
but to adjourn court until the next day.
.sThat night / went to the plaintiffs
counsel and explained that we were ready
TO settle but wanted to make a physical
examination OF the boy first. He had no
objections, so we rented room in the
local hospital and took the boy there.
eve put him upon an operating table
around which were gathered four white
coated, white whiskered men, alleged to
be, eminent surgeons, but in reality the
company's lawyers.
..After barring the youths bosom over
!. the heart, the chief surgeon grabbed an
ugly looking knife, and solemnly said:
q Brethren, there is just about one
chance in hundred that the patient will
survive this operation. Are you willing
to take the chance?
g asWe are answered the others.
ssThe words were hardly spoken before
!. the boy let out a yell, and cried. For Gods
sake, don't kill me-
sThen he snapped his jaws together
and became dumb again, but the few words
hehad said were mighty costly for him, for
his lawyers Immediately threw up the
sponge and asked for the dismissal ofthe
case the next morning"
Then the detective lighted his cigar,
and remarked that he always had more
trouble getting the truth out of a woman
than man.
"a few years ago a Buffalo woman,
who was known to US as member of a
fake injury syndicate, put in claim for
$50, 900 against us for alleged paralysis of
her limbs" continued the detective. "She
claimed that her spine had been jerked
out of kilter in a little one horse wreck
down in Tennessee.
g ST was positive that the woman was as
sound as dollar, but I couldn't prove it.
So I had to move to Buffalo and camp on
her trail. Finally I managed to strike up
an acquaintance with another woman
who was on very intimate terms with the
supposed paralyzed one.
aI professed to be member of gang
of personal injury grafters out in Chica-
20, of whom she knew something, and 1
showed such extensive knowledge OF the
gang that she believed me. OF course,
she wanted me to meet her friend, the
paralytic, the first thing, and I was for it
strong.
sShe gave me very ELUSIVE letter OF
introduction, and I started out on the
warpath. When I found the woman l
wanted, she was propped up in bed, and
was certainly doing the helpless act to per-
lection. When I sprung the letter she
warmed up, and we were merrily discuss
ing our experiences in taking various
kinds of falls out of railroad treasures.
aWhen I arose to go I suggested that
bor friends in Chicago might like to read