The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-06-10
.FLEECED
FOR MILLIONS.
Illinois Central Sues Off
Gals for Accounting.
Says It Has Lost Two Million
Dollars in Repair
Charges.

Chicago, June 7.-Oharging that It
has been defrauded of about 1000, 900
on repair work in a period OF four
years, the Illinois Central Railroad
Company has filed suit for an ac-
counting against four of its FORMER Of
ficials in the Circuit Court here. The
railroad company's bill, which al
ieges conspiracy to defraud, names the
fullowing men:
Orlando S. Keith, former superin-
tendent of transportation; Joseph E.
Buker, former assistant superinIben-
dent of machinery; William Renshaw
former assistant Superintendent OF
the machinery department; John NJ.
Taylor, former general storekeeper.
In connection with these charges
made against dts former officials, the
Illinois Central road declares in it's
bill that these concerns profited in
alleged overcharges on car repair work
in the following amounts:
The Blue Island Equipment Com
pany, 100000; the American Car and
Equipment Company, 100000; Oster-
mann Manufacturing Company, $780,
900; the Memphis Car Company, $780,
900, and the International Car Gem
panys alleged profits net stated.
In addition to the suit filed against
the four former officials, the rail-
road also filed suits for an account
. ing against the West Pullman Car
Company and against the American Car
and Equipment Company. These suit
Mere also filed in the Circuit Court
here
The filing cot the suits follows
months of Investigation by the rail-
road comply nd numerous rumors OF
an alleged graft ''ring"in the Illinois
Central railroad. Heretofore high Of
ficials of the road have stoutly deried
that there existed any trouble of this
alleged character.
The bill against the four FORMER de-
partment heads alleges that The men
entered into a conspiracy in June,
1906, ard that from that date until
April, 1910, the railroad company was
defrauded out of nearly $2,000,0 900. The
defendants are alleged TO have rep
resented to the corporation that the
eompany's repair work could be done
more cheaply by Independent concerns
than at the railroads own shops,
When contracts were given certain
concerns, the bill charges the rabl-
road company began paying long
series of large overcharges from
4 which certain superintenderts are de-
clared to have secured thousands OF
dollars.
In the suit filed against the Amer
lean Car ard Equipment Company.
Judge Walker at once issued an in
junction restraining the car concern
: from bringing any suits TO collect
' from the Illinois Central amounts al
legged to be due.
In the bill filed against the WeEt
Pullman concern 1T is charged chat
Henry C. Os.ermarn and the Oster-
mann Manufacturing Company enter
cd into the conspiracy to defraud
the raalnoad. The West Pullman Com
pany Is successor to the Ostermann
Company.
The bill against the FORMER Off
Gals states that the four defendants
caused cars to be sent for repairs TO
repair concerns controlled in whole
or in part by Keith, Buker, Renshaw
and Taylor.
The bill also charges that when the
Illinois Central closed dts own repair
shops, In 1906, 1t had on hand large
rumbsr of cars to be repaired and
large stocks of materials and supplies
with which to make repairs In
this connection the bill says: 'They
further conspired too cause your or
Sstpr's materials and supplies. such
as lumber, paint, ties. rails. bolts and
other materials and supplies, to be
delivered to such companies without
payment made or any credit given
!. youn orator"
The discovery OF the gigantic fraud.
which rivals in completeness and
boldness anything OF the kind htth-