New-York tribune., 1906-08-13

sengers OF the approaching trolley car saw her
plight and yelled TO the motorman to stop. but
he refused even slow down. In the nick OF
time, with the fender almost grazing the
woman, the passengers pulled the trolley from
the wire stopping the Edward Glare. one
OF the passengers, leaped from the car and
carried the woman and her child TO safety
Angered by the indifference of the motornan
20 the woman's safety. the infuriated passengers
mobbed him and the conductor. With the as
sistance OF an inspector the two fought off the
passengers until Coney Island was reached and
the police made 1t safe for them.
When Borough President Coler and Mrs. Coler
reached the Neck Road they refused 70 pay, a
second fare. Mr.. COier was ordered off the car.
He stepped Off but the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
inspector did not think that Mrs. coler moved
fast enough. Roughly seizng her by the shoul-
der he attempted 10 hustle her TO the street.
Mr. Coler saw him. ''None Of that" he cried
menacingly stepping toward the rufian, who
stepped back among the police.
The Borough President turned toward the
crowd.
Anybody that is a man will keep his seat and
refuse this estortionate fare" he said III you're
men you won't pay. Anybody that yields 70 this
extortion is only half q man."
Then the Borough President hired carriage
20 take him 10 the island.
Early in the day forty patrolmen, under
Sergeant Callahan, OF the 69th (Coney ISL
and) Precinct, were sent there. For long time
they did nothing except seek whatever shade
there might be and laugh at fights between the
passengers and the private officers.
ACTION OF POLICE A DISGRACE"
One man who stood and watched them for
more than an hour at that time said the action
OF the police was a disgrace to the force
The railroad inspectors and their hired thugs
had everything their own way" he said. I'VE
complained to the regular police: the only thing
We got was either jeer or a rough command
10 get out of here or get to the station.
Men were brutally treated. while women and
children were man-handled until ones blood
boiled TO see it. There no redress, however.
the police taking it as big joke.
IF Commissioner Bingham or Acting Com
missioner Waldo does not make rigorous in
vestigation of the whole affair and the part
played in it by the police the entire department
will be disgraced. In few instances has the con-
duct of the police in handling such crowd been
otherwise than praiseworthy, but until Commits
missioner O'Keeffe lacked them up their con-
duct yesterday a scandal TO the city.
Firally Captain Harkins, of the Coney Island
station came UP with more men, but about the
only good accomplished was that passengers
were dismayed sufficiently by the display of
force not TO resist the railroad men, and so es-
capped punishment.
One conductor, Morris Borton. of No. 215 East
123d street early sickened of the trouble that
was coming to him. He managed TO get his car
through to Coney Island. but at the Neck Road,
on his return trip. he jumped off. tore off his
badge and started for the engine house, close
by, cheeFed by the crowd. Chief COOney of the
railroad police went after the conductor and ar
rested him. The crowd pressed about the chief
in threatening manner, but did not seek ac-
lively to molest him The conductor was put into
an automobile labelled Brooklyn Rapid Transit.
No. Q" and rushed TO the Coney Island police
station. where he was locked up charged with
obstructfng traffic. Sergeant Mcguire, who was
on the desk placed him absolutely incommuni-
cado apparently at the request of Chief Cooney.
Deputy Commissioner OKeeffe first appeared
actively in the afternoon, when he upset. the
plans OF Acting Chief Inspector Donald Grant
and Captain Harkins Both of these officials
had been doing just what the railroad employees
told them 10 do. Amy one that was objectionable
the railroad was hurried out Of the way.
Newspaper men were forbidden to approach the
stalled cars or to take photographs The police,
acting under the orders of the railroad men.
made it as difficult possible TO speak to those
outside tie police lines.
Even the police cards admitting newspaper
men within police lines were ignored by the
inspector and captain until Deputy Commis-
sioner OKeeffe read them lecture on the value
of recognizing Commissioner Bingham's sigma
ture. After that the police instead Of aiding
the railroad detectives held aloof from the
trouble, until the deputy commissioner took
more drastic action in the evening.
The most serious fight Of the evening was at
Kensngton just before midnight. when two
Brooklyn Rapid Transit inspectors. thinking
that the police were not watching them, tried 10
throw James Golden. of No. 165 Gates avenue
from a LOrimer street car. With Golden were
his wife and little daughter.
No police were in sight when a division super
intendent. named Wood jumped on the car to
force Golden to pay the second fare. Golden re-
fused, whereupon the superintendent and a
couple Of inspectors tried TO hustle them off the
car. Both Golden and his wife resisted to their
utmost the inspectors getting decidedly the
worst OF the fight. Other railroad men came
running up, but before they could get into the
fight Deputy Commissioner OKeeffe got into the
fray with his billy. Inspector Grant who had
become the Deputy Commissioners shadow after
the Deputy Commissioner had asserted his au-
thority, followed close behind him with his club
In few minutes the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
forces were routed and the Goldens kept on the
car.
PASSENGER BEATEN.
A passenger en- Reid avenue car No. 3745
was dubbed and beaten. with Captain Harkins
and Inspector Grant looking on He received
neither protection assistance from the po-
lice. The conductor of the car was No. 5O2S
The passenger was Charles Summers of No
1854 Schaeffer street Brooklyn. On his refusal
10 pay the second fare at the Neck Road. the
conductor and special officer No. 252 pummelled
him heartily and then threw him off the car