The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-06-14
PENNSYLVANIA ROADS
CHIEF CLERK TOOK GRAFT
Joseph Boyer Kept All of the
Money For Himself.
SUM OF $4,000 FROM MINERS
Others Began the Practice and
Boyer Says He Continued IL
Because He Thought II Was
Customary.


Philadelphia. Pa.-That he accepted
gifts of stock amounting to $11, 600 and
money aggregating more than $46,O 900
from coal mining companies during a
period of three years was admitted by
Joseph Boyer, chief clerk in the office
of A. w. Gibbs, superintendent of mo-
tive power of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. Mr.. Boyer purchases the fuel
coal used in the locomotives of the
company, and the donors of the gifts
were the coal companies which furnish
the fuel to the railroad. MI. Boyer
named fv companies which allowed
him from three to five cents on each
ton sold to the railroad company. He
said he never asked for the allowance.
but accepted it because he believed he
was following a custom of the depart
ment.
A. w. Gibbs, Mr.. Boyer's superior
officer, on the stand said he was I'M
aware that such conditions existed in
his department.
Mr.. Boyer said he was at first diSin-
clined to accept the money, but after
thinking it over decided that he was
doing nothing unusual.
How long did you wrestle with your
coEscience:' Gueried Commissioner
Clement. The witness did not know.
Mr.. Boyer said he had 200 shares of
stock in the Jamison Coal Company,
given to him for his one-third interest
in the MacLaren Coal Company. The
MacLaren stock was given to him by
Mr.. Jamison. He also had ten shares
in the Valley Coal Company and fifteen
in the Edri Coal Company, which were
presented to him by Captain Alfred
Hicks. Ten shares of Preston Coal
Company stock were sent to him in
an envelope. He was not certain who
sent it. but thought it might have come
from Joseph Aiken, a railroad man, or
H. A. Kuhn, an operator. All of these
stocks paid dividends. Mr.. Boyer said
also that he holds an interest amount
ing to $4,000 in ~undeveloped coal lands
on the West Penn division. He paid
for this stock.
Mr.. Boyer's stock holdings were only
a small portion of the gifts he admitted
receiving from coal mining companies.
In his capacity as purchaser of fuel
coal he testified that he had received
from five companies an allowance of
from three to five cents Il ton on coal
used by the railroad for fuel pur-
poses. From the Latter part of 1903
to date he had received a total of more
than SAG. 000. The money had been
first Sent to him in cash. but later
cashiers checks had beer sent to
Cashier Hastings of the Second Ma
tionai Bank of Altoona and placed on
deposit for Boyer.
He was asked why he Disseminated
in favor of Blythe Il Co. He replied
that he did not discriminate. as the
money came TO him without solicita-
ton or any effort on his part. He be-
lieved that the money had been paid
i'll the same manne to his predecessors
in office. and believed that he was only
following the custom of the depart
ment.
The companies which made him the
allowance were the Graft Coal Com
pany. the Clearfield and Granton Coal
the Dunkirk Coal Company,
Boyer. Smith IS Turner and Thomas
& Co. The Graft Coal Com
allowed him five cents a ton
and the Clearfield and Granton Com
gave him q share in the profits
which amounted to not less than four
cents Il ton. Blythe & Co. gave him
three cents 4 ton.
What did you do with the money!
asked Attorney Glasgow.
Il kept it ALL"
did you not share it with others in
the employ of the railroad?"
mo, sir; 1 kept it all"
'How do you account for getting it?'
~ imagine somebody had been get |
it before me-
Roughly estimated the money re-
by Mr.. Boyer from the COM
.anies mentioned was as follows:
Graft Coal Company, $4,000; Clear
field and Granton Co., $4,000; Dunkirk
Company, $3.50; Smith & Turner, $751;
$50; Thomas Blythe, $4,000.