The daily tribune., 1906-01-16
AUDITOR SMASHES
A FLORENCE MAN
]. w. Forbes the Victim
of a Ferocious Attack.
Trouble Started Over Collecting
Car Fare-Auditor is Ar
rested and Brought
Back Here.

the Fremont Wall Paper aud Paint
company asked for the return Of car
fare that his wife was forced to pay
for her four year old girl from Canon
City to Florence on the first section
of Rio Grande train No. last even
ing, he was made the victim OF
ferooious beating by Train Auditor
James, of that train. He was badly
cut under the left eye. one Of his ears
was badly cut and he was punched
about the body. The negro porter
who ipterferred with the auditor when
he was beating Mr.. Forbes, was also
struck by James.
Mrs. Forbes had visited friends
in Canon City yesterday afternoon
and returned to this city on the even.
ing train. The little girl is not more
than four years old and according
TO the rules OF the railroad company
she should not pay fare until she
reaches the age Of six. Mrs. Forbes
informed the auditor Of this but he
insisted that payment should be made.
There was nothing else left for her to
do and she paid as demanded. When
Florence was reached Mrs. Forbes told
her husband. who WAS at the train
to IN eet them. of the oocurrepoe and
the gentleman spoke to Auditor James
and asked for his money back. James
is said to have refused the request and
Mr.. Forbes then said he would report
him to the company.
With this remark Mr.. Forbes had
started homo leading his little girl.
He had reached tho outer edge of the
platform and bystanders assert that
the official then walked up behind
Mr.. Forbes and struck him under
the right eye with his ticket punch.
Mr.. Forbes was felled to the side.
walk by the sudden blow but soon
regained his feet. By this time the
colored porter interferred and he too
was asssiled by the auditor. It is said.
Then he again turned to Mr.. Forbes
and assaulted him the second time.
In the later scnffle his ear was scrath.
ed and he was pounded on the chest.
The train had started and Auditor
James had to run to catch 1t. Fear.
ing. II 10 said. that he would be NJ.
rested he changed his uniform for
civilian clothes before Pueblo WAS
-eAched. But he was not smooth
enough for the Florence officers.
They wired to Pueblo TO have the
man arrested and taken off the train
and held until an officer from Florence
could come for him.
After some considerable searching
he was located and In company with
two Pueblo officers WAS being es.
corted to the Union depot James
carried his uniform and suit cases
Before reaching the depot the train
again started and Auditor James like
a fash Of lightning dropped his
bundles and made . successful dash
for the train. The officers oommuni.
Gated with the Eighth street depot In
Pueblo but before the word got there
the train had passed aud James WAS
taken on to Colorado Springs.
Long before the Springs was reached
Officer Green gave decisive orders
to the Spring, chief Of police to ar.
rest and hold James. Reach ing tho
Springs James Ia said TO have made
. dash up town but the officers are
said to have seen him running and he
was overtaken. Deputy Sheriff Ed.
ward Warner WAS sent to the Springs
on an early train this morning to
bring James back to Florence whore
hs-must stand trail upon . charge Of
assault and battery. He IL expected