Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-08-18
COMMUTERS HABIT
GIVES HIM AWAY
Process-SerVer Has No Difficult
ty in Identifying the Lehigh
Roads Oldest Commuter.

| Known as the oldest commuter on
the Lehigh Valley railroad train that
| leaves West Elizabeth for New York
daily at 7:15 a. an. and to have occu-
! pied the same seat in the conveyance
for the past fifteen years, Henry Il.
Coffin, of South Somerville, had a
slim chance of evading Abram s.
OveCmiller sergeant-at-arms of the
East Orange District Court, when the
officer sought him today to serve a
subpoena.
Aside from being so we'll known for
the above reasons, Mr.. Coffin, who is
q wholesale butter and egg merchant
in New York, invariably has flower
peeping from the buttonhole on the
lapel Of his coat, and this fact also
would make the establishment of his
identity easy.
The reason Mr.. Coffin was served
with the subpoena Is that Elwood
Leary, a Newark lawyer, has brought
suit against him in the East Orange
Court for $500, which the attorney
claims is due him for professional SER
vices.
Mr.. Leary, feeling he might en-
counter difficulty getting Mr.. Coffin
to a court decided to have Mr.. Over
miller serve the subpoena, as the lat
ter has the reputation OF seldom, II
ever falling down" when it comes
to carrying out the duties Of his job.
The sergeant-at-arms deliberated
long over just how he would accom-
pllsh the task of making the service.
He knew he had to meet Mr.. Cofhn
away from his homo town, because
South Sotnerville is in Somerset
county, which, of course, is outside
the jurisdiction Of the East Orange
tribunal.
Mr.. Overmiller learned about what
time Mr.. Coffin usually starts for
New York, so he inquired at the rail-
road station the time when train
on which Mr.. Coffin might take leaves
South Somerville.
The ticket agent informed by Mr..
Overmiller what his mission was,
Immediately told the officer what
train Mr.. Coffin takes, because the
railroad employe, like most OF the
other men of the road knows what
a. familiar character Mr.. Coffin ls on
the train. The sergeant-at-arms was
up bright and early this morning ana
he motored to West Elizabeth, arrfv-
ing there a few minutes ahead or the
train. Mr.. Overmiller wanted to
catch Mr.. Coffin between West Eliza
beth and Newark, because he did not
want to go to Jersey City. which ne
would have had to do If he got on
the train in this city.
Accompanied by Mr. Leary, Mr.,
Overmiller got aboard the train, and
the lawyer and officer inquired OF q
passenger If the latter knew Mr..
Coffin. The passenger, like all the
other men aboard the train, knew
exactly where Mr.. Coffin was, SO the
subpoena went to the smoker,
where Mr.. Coffin was occupying his
customary seat.
Here's a love missive for you. Mr..
Coffin" said Mr.. Overmiller, hand
ing the paper to the defendant just
as the train was pulling into the
Newark station. Now Mr.. Coftin
must appear in the court to answer
the suit. Mr.. Coffin some time ago
alleged he was hit on the head by
the gates at crossing of the Lehigh,
and he sought damages for his In
iuries. He retained Mr.. Leary to
defend him. Subsequently the rail-
road settled for $500, and the lawyer
said that when he sought his COM
pensation 1t was refused.