The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-17
Indicted Veteran G.. & O.
Conductor Pleads Not
Guilty to Violation of Hep
burn Act.
FACES $4,000 FINE
AND JAIL SENTENCE
George B. Dougan Called to
Testify AS Character Wit
ness for RailrOader Charg-
ed With Fraud.

George B. Dougan of this city was
called to Cincinnati to testify as
character witness for William A. Boy
er, c. & O. fast passenger conductor,
indicted recently by the federal grand
jury for alleged rate cutting, and now
on trial in the United States district
federal court under Judge Hollister
at Cincinnati
Boyer, who is we'll known in Rich
mond, denies absolutely any connec-
tlon with the alleged violation of the
Hepburn act, the punishment for
which is $4,000 fine and two years in
Jail.
Mr.. Dougan was called by the in
dicted man to testify in his behelf,
and do whatever possible to prevent
conviction on what looks like over
whelming testimony against him. The
railroad secret agents have testified
against him, but Boyer charges that
Fleetwood Preston, the main witness
for the government, has manufactured
the evidence.
Boyer Maintains Innocence.
Boyer says that on June 10 last
year, Preston tried to secure lower
rate, pleading financial embarrass-
ment. The conductor firmly asserts
he refused to cut the rate, and charg
ed Preston Sc, with a 10 cent extra
fee for cash fair. and he was able to
produce his record book to show the
entry of the collection.
In their System" Boyer and his
friends are alleged to have used Rich
mond as their southern station and
Hammond as their northern station"
of the underground" method.
When Boyer lived in Richmond, he
resided at 42S South Thirteenth street.
His wife is we'll known here, but as
Boyer spent much of his time on c.,
c. & l.. trains, his friends are mainly
railroad men. Boyer was the first man
to act as conductor on the first Pull
man train the road sent from Chicago
to Cincinnati several years ago. with
r. NJ. Haas, postmaster here, as the
only passenger.
Indictment a Surprise.
BOyers recent Indictment by the
federal grand jury came as a surprise
to his friends. Charles Blair, ticket
agent here, has known him as one of
the trusted employees of the road, and
he was considered the leading con-
ductor.
ploye of the Western Union Telegraph
company at Chicago, and a resident of
Bellevue, Ky, testified as chief gov
ernment witness against Boyer, the
wife and daughter of the indicted man
were in court. Boyer's daughter who
is now high school girl, attended
school here
Preston testified that it was neces-
sary to know the ropes" in order to
get the advantage of the fare cutting.
A Chicago and a Cincinnati man, in
league with Boyer, Preston testified.
gave him note while he was leaving
either city. This introduced him to
Boyer, and secured the low cash rate
between the two terminals.
Passenger Saves $1.75.
The witness said he always purchas
ed a ticket to Richmond when leav-
ing Cincinnati for Chicago. This and
SO was given to Boyer for the Sc
trip, saving the passenger S175. In
making the trip from Chicago a ticket
was purchased to Hammond
why did you buy tickets from Chi
cago to Hammond, and from Cincin-
natl to Richmond" Preston was asked
in Federal court.
Merely to get by the gates and got
aboard the train answered the wit
ness. Il was instructed to do this"
Preston testified that he had spent
two months in the employe of the
railroad and had been paid 5000 for
his services as a secret agent.
Walter NJ. Booth, superintendent of
the line, testified that Boyer was an
employe and was familiar with the
rates. He declared while on the wit
ness stand that he had notifined Boyer
Of his discharge just prior to the
opening of court Booth testified that,
after the arrest of Boyer, who was
taken from his train at the Grand Cen
trail station. Cincinnati, and had taken
the defendants run out of that city.
Boyer was represented by Attor-
ney Max Levy, while Assistant Dis
trica Attorney William Coffin handled
the case for the government. Elmer
Crist, another conductor of the same
line, will be tried today under the
same charge. Preston will again be
the chief witness for the government