Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-13
BEvERLIN BRINGS
SUIT FOR ARREST
Special Agent of Central Union Tele-
phone Company Asks $4,000 DAM
ages From Bert Z. Norris.
HAVE QUARREL OVER SERVICE
Defendant Rebels When He Discovers
Instrument in His Home Has
Been Disconnected.

Archibald J. Beverlin. special agent
for the Central Union Telephone com
pany. filed in the Moline city court of
Judge G. o. Dietz today case against
Bert f. Morris, Twenty-fOurth street
and Twenty-second avenue, Rock Is
land. In that the rights of subscribers
and the rights of the company may be
threshed out in the Moline court, the
case is likely to prove interesting to
the thousands of telephone subscribers
throughout Rock Island county.
Charging malicious prosecution, Bev-
erlin asks $4,000. The suit is based
on the fact that Morris recently had
Beverlin arrested on charge of ma
licious mischief. District Manager
Brown was also arrested at this time,
il is understood.
According to Morris he made several
complaints to the telephone company
regarding his service. He says he OBJ
tanned no satisfaction. Then, one day
he attempted 10 phone to his home
while he was at work. He was referred
to a supervisor, and. according to Nor
ris. she told him his phone had been
disconnected.
He inquired to learn the reason and
declares that she told him it was be
cause some one had talked over it and
clares there was only one person in
the house who could have used it and
that this person was not of the sort
who would ever use improper language
anywhere.
The next day he complained TO tele-
phone company officials. he says, and
they told him that his phone was on
the "out of order board saying moth
ing about it having been disconnected
because of the alleged improper Ian
guage.
The case reached a climax the Sat
urday before Labor day when Morris
sWOre out a warrant in East Moline for
Beverlin and Brown, charging them
with malicious mischief on the grounds
that they had tempered with his tele-
phone, which, he and his attorney de-
clare. is his property during the time
that he has paid rent for it. TIE com
pany has no right. he and his attorney
contend. to interfere with his service
any more than a landlord has the right
to tamper with property Of a tenant as
/ long as that tenant has his rent paid
up.
! Threats Are Made.
The warrant Tor Be- eriin's arrest
/ was turned over to Constable Ellis OF
/ Moline for service. 1t is reported that
I he reused Mr.. Beverlln from bed al
about II that night to serve the
J warrant.
The case was heard in East Moline
and it is said company officials refused
to name the supervisor who had said
/ service on the Morris phone had been
discontinued because of alleged i'm
. proper language. Morris, it is said
I threatened to subpoena all the en-
! plOyes at the telephone cOmpanv'S
Rock Island exchange and find out
! This, however, is said TO have been mel
by a counter threat on the part of Mr.
Beverlin's attorney to subpoena all the
officials of the big manufacturing plant
! where Morris is employed. Ultimately
! the case against the telephone meT
4 was dismissed.
! The damage suit filed by Beverlin in
! the Moline city court today may reopen
/ the entire question of the rights OF
4 subscribers.