Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
ARREST OF Mr.. FINLEY
TICKET AGENT RELEASED. BUT
LEFT ILL AT EASE.

| ASHEN1LLE. N. c.. July 21.-Suiting his
action to the word of Gov. Glenn, who yes
terday announced that railroad officials
higher up should be reached. Police JUS
tice Reynolds today issued warrants stimuli
! taneously for the arrest of President Finley
| of the Southern and for Ticket Agent Will
| son.
| Mr. Finley was arrested early in the fore
noon 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
! forcnoon Attorneys for the Southern sig
nit1ed their Willingness to proceed with his
| trial. but Judge Reynolds announced that
the hearing would be postponed until Mon
/ day.
! hat the court would turn the prisoner over
to officer and thus pave the way for
habeas corpus proceedings, but Judge Rey
nolds checkmatsd this move by saying that
he would take personal charge of the ticket
agent. few minutes alter. however. it
became apparent that Judge Reynolds
simply meant that he would take Charge
of the prisoner ''constructively," for he re-
marked that Mr.. Wilson could follow him
around all day If he wanted to- and then
walked off. leaving the agent to go his way
unmolested. but feeling very uncertain
about his legal status.
SAASAesAS 10Y GU Iva AA4AAS'
1t quite early when Mr. Finley was
apprised of his prospective arrest A po-
nceman went to Battery Park Hotel with
the warrant, but the hotel people refused
to volunteer any information, and the Of
gficer consumed some tine in finding the
railroad man. In the meanwhile the railway
officials were playing for time, and the Of
ticer was persuaded that it was his duty to
read some important appearing documen S
handed to him before Mr.. Finley should be
rushed 10 the police station. In this way
tie machinery of the federal court was set
in motion ana things We're running smooth
ly in this respect by the time President
Finley had concluded his breakfast.
1t was only few moments after Mr.
Finley had actually submitted to arrest
that he made application for release. and
then Judge Pritchard. in the United States
court. signed the writ which was served
On the policemen while the party was on
the way TO the police court. Thus the
course of the procession detected from the
police to the federal court. President Fin
ley and all the officers were examined as
witnesses during this habeas corpus hear
ing and Judge Pr.tchard was apparently
nettlcd when he d.scerned disposition on
the part of counsel 70: the state 10 SNo"
that he had issued the writ for the release
Of President F.nley before the actual arrest
of that gentleman.
An right. go ahead and prove that OBJ
served Judge Pritchard. as MIR. Finley was
questioned on TINS point Dy Juube JAMES
H.. Merrinon. 1t was the contention OF
Judge M errimon that Mir. Finley was only
technically Under arrest, but the policeman
testified that he under instructions to
arrest Mr.. Finley and take him at once to
the police court. and the warrant read
that way Judge Prtchard concluded that
the executive hsad of the Southern was
being deprived of his liberty and ordered
his release.
Some Witnesses Annoyed.
The arrest OF Messrs. Finley and Wilson
excited special interest from the fact that
the warrants were issued before Police
Judge Reynolds. who recently issued the
warrants for the arrest of District Passen-
ger Agent Wood and Ticket Agent Graham
At that time there was considerable talk
of contempt proceedings should there be
further interference with the jurisdiction or
Judge Pritchard. and Judge Reynolds and
others were summoned to testify before
Judge Prtchard relative to the charge that
the indictments were framed up in local
newspaper Office. and that the prosecution
witnesses We're not vo untary.
Now this phase of question is again rem
dered doubly interesting from the fact that
the witnesses whose names were afnxsd
to the warrants issued today were not
voluntary. The warrant for the arrest of
President Finley was sworn to by ponce
officer before Judge Reynolds. and CITY At
torney Bourne and Frank Carter. we'll
| known attorneys. were named in the wa
| rant as prosecuting witnesses, the warrant
| setting forth the fact that Messrs. Bourne
! and Carter bought tickets to Toxaway and
paid therefor the old rate. Late today Mr.
| Carter made statement to the effect that
he was unaware that his name was being
used in such connection. and character
lied as unto -tunate the arrest of Mr.. Fin
| ley After his release Mr.. Finley an
nounc2d his intention to remain here for
| awhile. and he will ask for the postpone
ment of a board meeting in Washington
which he had agreed TO attend Tuesday.