Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-27
WOMAN AND R.R.
IN COURT BATTLE
Keen Witted Mother Sues Corpo-
ration for Baggage Held
for ChiId's Fare
SUIT HAS PUZZLING ANGLES
Human Interest Is Mixed Up in
Matter Involving Dry
Legal Questions
SUIT HAS PULLING ANGLES

Mark Twain's famous "blue-trip-slip-
for-a-three-f story is not half so
bewildering as a railway puzzle which
Judge --ruser of the superior court Is
trying to solve as the result of a suit
which was tried before him yesterday.
It Is the case of B. o. Stangeland
against the Southern Pacific Railway
company and involves the questions
of whether a common carrier has the
right to sell transportation and not
give enough tickets and then hold
baggage to insure payment of an extra
fare and whether 1t has the right to
hold the baggage of an adult to Sc
cure the payment of transportation
for a child.
In addition to these questions, which
Judge Houser says make 1t one OF the
most peculiar cases ever to go to
court, it shows the cleverness OF
woman who nearly outwitted the Har-
riman system.
In June, 1909, Mrs. G. r. stangeland.
wife of the plaintiff, desired to come
from New York, where she was re-
siding, to California, where her hus-
band already had preceded her, and
to bring with her her four sons, aged
respectively, IA, ~. 6, and years.
She went to the ticket office In New
York and frankly told the agent that
she had little money. She finally made
the purchase, after much talk with
them, of third-class tickets for her
self and sons. The tickets were two
full ones, for herself and her Oldest
son, and two half ones for the next
two sons, it being understood that the
youngest, who was 4 years old. should
ride free. The party was to go by
vessel from New York to New Or
leans and from the latter point to
Los Angeles by rail.
REACHES CALIFORNIA
Mrs. Stangeland told a friend of her
contemplated journey to California
and how she was coming. The friend
was Mortified at the thought Of a sea
voyage at that time of year and as
sured Mrs. Stangeland that she never
could endure It II she went third class.
Mrs. Stangeland thought the matter
over and then returned to the ticket
office to confer with the agents. After
considerable discussion, the officials
concluded they would raise the tick
cts from third to second class. and
did GO.
Accordingly, Mrs. Stangeland and
her children set sail for New Orleans,
making the trip without incident, but
when the party had boarded the train
at the Crescent city and the westward
journey by rail had begun, she was
alarmed TO note I0dL SD0 was minus
a half-fare ticket.
So the 6-year-old had no ticket, and
the conductor was told so when he
arrived upon his punching rounds. He
demanded that an extra fare be paid
and Mrs. Stangeland refused.
AS there is q law prohibiting the
election of children from trains, there
was nothing for the conductor to do
but to permit the 6-year-old to ride.
But Mrs Stangeland had to fight the
same battle in each division, arrival
at which meant the advent of a new
conductor.
BAGGAGE IS HELD
Finally Los Angeles was reached in
safety and Mrs. Stangeland gave the
transfer men the checks for her bag
gage. They returned to her with the
Information that the railway company
refused to give it to them.
She began an investigation, which
resulted in her learning that railway
companies hold baggage to insure the
payment of fares. She told the Of
ficials that It was child who had
ridden without the ticket for which
shs paid and that he had no baggage,
that it was hers they were holding, but
that made no difference to them, she
declares-they held it just the same.
This keeping of baggage valued at
$3.50 as q lien on a fare OF $29 which
she alleges she paid but had 40 ticket
for aroused her ire and her husband
filed suit.
Judge Houser has the case under
advisement.