Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-01-11

N0Io8 OF Iuo k0ur010S.
The arrest and conviction in magis-
trate's court in Charles Town some days
ago of two railroad detectives charged
with making illegal arrests at shenandoah
Junction has brought to light some con-
ditions that seem to need attention. A
prominent and influential Jefferson coun-
ty official stated to the Register that GER
tain detectives are following very prof
table game of graft by arresting on slight
provocation tramps and other persons
charged with technical violations of the
law and taking them before willing mag
istrates for trial. The detectives get fees
and the magistrates get fees, and the
county is thus MIXED Of good money,
with some poor fellow serving as the
goat. 1t is charged that there is deliber-
ate collision between the detectives and
one or two magistrates in this sort OF
graft, and it is further said that the detec-
tives will serve as constable, Judge and
Jury on occasion and collect and pocket
such money as their victims may have
about them and be willing TO give up as
the prices of going free. 1t is likely that
the matter will be investigated and the
grafters' game stopped. lfthe detectives
ever caught any real criminals the people
would be more tolerant; but their actiyi-
ties seem to be principally in the line OF
arresting persons who "trespass" upon
railroad property.
Train No. 10, the Pittsburg express,
east bound, on the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, was wrecked at the pulp mill
just west of Harper's Ferry about $50
O'Clock last Saturday morning. A rail
broke just as the engine passed over it,
and the tender and all the cars except a
rear Pullman were derailed. The coaches
were thrown against the rocky cliff along
the track, but fortunately they were otthe
new steel design and were not broken.
The passengers were badly shaken up
and some of them were bruised and shock
ed, but no one was fatally hurt. The
train was not running at full speed, and
this undoubtedly saved much more ser
ious accident. The passengers were TAX
en- TO a hotel in Harper's Ferry and there
cared for until a train could be made up
to forward them eastward. Guy Right
slime, of Shepherdstown, a mail clerk,
was on the train, but he escaped with
some severe bruises.
The Norfolk & Western Railway Co.
put into effect new schedule OF passen-
ger rates on January LIST. The rates in
Virginia and West Virginia will be prac-
tically the same, but on all interstate bus
mess rate OF three cents a mile will be
charged. The fare from ShepherdStown
to Hagerstown will be thus increased
from so cents to 81 cents-a rather cheap
sort of scheme tor a railroad to practice.
Agent Spedden is going to put in a keg
full OF pennies so as to be able to make
change promptly.
The poor. travelling public starts into
winter without any improvement in con-
ditions at Shenandoah Junction, and the
same wretched old shack will continue to
shelter the complaining patrons who are
forced 10 use the Baltimore & Ohio or
the Norfolk & Western Railroads. Such
a depot is disgrace to these two great
railroad systems and an outrage on the
public. 1t is pity that West Virginia
has no railroad commission to enforce
better conditions.
II is said that the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad will at once begin the eonstruc-
ton Of a third track from Engle's. this
county, TO a point near Weveton, max
ing 4 continuous third track from Martins
burg to Brunswick. One report says
trat the new line will be double track
and that it will occupy the old grade
around the end OF the mountain opposite
Harper's Ferry.