Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-28
PRESIDENT
ARRESTED
GOVERNOR GLENN MAKES GOOD
HIS PROMISE
HEAD OF SOUTHERN RAILWAY
IN CUSTODY
Is Released on Habeas Corpus Pro-
ceedings Before Actually Taken
Into Custody and Judge
Is NettIed
By Associated Press.


ASHEVILLE, N. c., July 27.-Suiting
his action to the word of Governor Glenn,
who yesterday announced that railroad
officials higher up should be reached,
Police Justice Reynolds today issued war
rants simultaneously for the arrest of
President w. w. Finley of the Southern
railway and for Ticket Agent Wilson.
Mr.. Finley was arrested early in the
forenoon and was released on habeas
corpus proceedings early in the afternoon,
while the ticket agent, who was taken
from his post of duty, thus compelling
numerous passengers to board trains
without tickets, was arraigned in the
police court in the afternoon.
Attorneys for the Southern railway sig
nified their willingness to proceed with
his trial, but Judge Reynolds announced
that the hearing would be postponed until
Monday.
Counsel declined to give bond, hoping
that the court would turn the prisoner
over to an officer and thus pave the way
for habeas corpus proceedings, but Judge
Reynolds checkmated this move by say
ing that he would take personal charge of
the ticket agent.
A few minutes later it became apparent
that Judge Reynolds simply made it plain
that he would take charge of the prisoner
''constructively," for he remarked that
Mr.. Wilson could follow him around all
day 'if he wanted to-" and then walked
off, leaving the agent to go his way un-
molested but feeling very uncertain
about his legal status.
1t was quite early when Mr. Finley was
apprised of his prospective arrest.
Officials Play for Time
A policeman went to the Battery Park
hotel with a warrant, but as the hotel
people refused to volunteer any informa-
tion the officer consumed some time in
finding the railroad man.
In the meantime the railway officials
were playing for time and the officer was
persuaded that it was his duty to read
some important appearing documents
handed to him before Mr.. Finley rushed
to the police station.
In this way the machinery of the fed
seral court was set in motion and things
were running smoothly in this respect
by the time President Finley had con-
cluded his breakfast
1t was a few moments after Finley had
actually submitted to arrest that he made
a plea for release, and then Judge
Pritchard in the United States court
signed the writ which was served on the
pOllcemdn Wnlle tine party WAS OH tuS
way to the police court.
Thus the course of the procession was
DETECTED from the police to the federal
court
Judge Is NettIed
President Finley and all the officials
were examined as witnesses during this
habeas corpus proceeding and Judge
Prtchard was Enthusiastically nettled when
he discerned disposition on the part of
the counsel for the state to show that
he had issued the writ for the release of
President Finley before the actual arrest
of that gentleman.
"All right go ahead and prove that
observed Judge Pritchard, as Mr. Finley
was questioned on this point by Judge
James III, Merrimon.
1t was the contention of Judge Merri-
mon that Mr.. Finley would be only nom
inally under arrest, but the policeman
testified that he was under instructions to
arrest Mr. Finley and take him tomorrow
to the police court, and as the warrant
was read that way Judge Pritchard con-
cluded that the executive head Of the