Evening star., 1916-08-16
F|STF|GHT ON CAR,
PASSENGER AYERS
W. w. Burns Says He Was At
tackled by Old Dominion
Conductor.
REFUSED TO PAY FARE
WITHOUT A TRANSFER
Clash Came After Settlement Later
Had Been Made. It Is
Charged.

w W. Burns an employe of the
patent office, who resides at Franklin
Park, on the Washington and Old Do
minion railway-the Great Falls trolley
line-said on his arrival in Washing
ton this morning that he had been at
tackled by Samuel Bell. one of the COM
pany's conductors, on the car leaving
Great Falls at 1880 am. as another in
cident in the fight between the rail-
road company and the passengers along
the line following a recent advance In
fares by the company.
MIR. Burns. whose name has figured
in other reports of alleged violence be-
tween the passengers and employees of
the company, declared to reporter OF
The Star today that he and Mr.. r. E.
Billup, who also resides at Franklin
Park, had been requested to leave the
car on which they were riding because
of their refusal to pay their fare unless
given a city transfer. such as the com
pany has stopped issuing. although Mr..
Burns said he finally paid his fare,
being denied receipt.
He was permitted to remain In the
car. he said, but when he started In the
direction of Mr.. Billup Mr.. Burns says he
was seized by Conductor Samuel Bell.
upon which there was fist fight which
continued until other passengers inter-
fered.
Refuse to Discuss Reports.
Officials of the railway company today
declined to confirm or deny the reports
of alleged violence on the cars. Colin II.
Livingstone president of the company,
said:
1.-The case has been taken to the inter-
Nv
sengers and it will be decided there. We
will not discuss it for publication, nor try
these charges in the newspapers'
Case Reaches Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia. in an action filed by Ernest
vited to settle another phase of the
controversy between the Washington
and Old Dominion Railway Company
and it's patrons. In the declaration
filed by Mr.. Trail, through Attorneys E.
Hilton Jackson. and James Sherter,
claiming $4,000 damages, it is stated
that August 10, while en- route to his
place of business, in Washington, and
while lawfully a passenger on one of
the cars of the defendant. Mr.. Trail was
elected from the car near Thrifton, Va,
because of his refusal to pay a carfare
in addition to the fare that was charged
by the company at the time of the pur-
chase, June. 1916, of his Communication
ticket, which read between Herndon.
Va, and Thrifton. Va. and did not ex-
pire until August 81. 1916.
The declaration asserts that from the
time the defendant railroad began its
operations in the state of Virginia some
years ago it has followed the uniform
and universal custom. enforced and
acquiesced in by all of it's officers and
agents, of giving a transfer to the Cap
ita1 Traction Company in exchange for
a city fare when its cars reached
Thrifton, Va. 1t was the failure of the
conductor of the car upon which the
plaintiff was riding to give such trans
fer that furnished the occasion on the
part of the railway company for eject
ing Mr.. Trail from the car. his conten-
tion being that the custom of giving
this transfer was part of his contra ct
and could not lawfully be refused until
the expiration of his commuta ton
ticket, which at the time of the occur
rences referred to was in full force and
effect.