Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-18
WARRANTS FOR CARMEN
IN CONNECTION WITH
BUTTERFIELD ASSAULT


Pratt of the local Garments Union and
Dominick Desjardins, a conductor in
the employ of the L., A. & w. St. Ry.,
were given hearing Saturday before
the officials of the road, as a result of
the alleged assault upon Motorman
Fred Butterfield Friday evening. Both
men were suspended.
A warrant charging George B. Pratt,
president of the Lewiston street car
mems union, with riotous and obscene
conversation and behavior and assault
upon MotOrman Fred Butterfield, was
issued Monday afternoon.
Another warrant charges Dominic
Desjardins. the conductor who was
with Mr.. Pratt Friday night when the
alleged assault and abuse of Motorman
Buttertield occurred, with riotous be-
haviOr and obscene conversation.
Fred Butterfield the motorman,
charges the assault and the comapny
brings the complaint under the stat
ute regarding behavior on public car
riers.
In asking for the warrants, officials
of the L. A. & w. say they had not
the slightest personal feeling toward
Mr.. Pratt and Mr.. Desjardins. In
fact, they say, had there been any
other way of properly dealing with the
situation, they would gladly have TAX
en- it. But they felt that warrants
must be issued in the cause of COM
mon decency and for the protection of
the roads patrons.
Pratt and Desjardins boarded Motor
man Butterfield's car Friday evening,
and, according to Butterfeld, used
abusive language to him. Finally. so
Butterfeld alleged, Pratt struck him
in the face. dazing him and causing
the blood to flow freely from a split
lip. The motOrman does not allege
that DesjardinS struck him, but that
he called him names and otherwise in
suited and annoyed him. He said both
men appeared to be more or less I'M
der the influence of liquor. Three men
were required to take Pratt from the
car, it was asserted
NJ. A. Williams of Portland super
intendent of employment and inspec-
ton departments of the system came
to Lewiston Saturday to investigate
tail in Saturdays Sun.
Both Pratt and Desjardins were call
ed before Mr.. Williams, Supt. Bowie
and other officials OF the road, and
given an opportunity to state their
side of the case.
According to statement given out
at the close OF the hearing, both Pratt
and Desjardins admitted they had been
drinking the night of the alleged as
sault. Pratt did not deny but that he
struck ButteTtield, but he declared that
he was provoked by what the motor
man said to him. Desjardins also de-
clared that the notorman insulted
them.
These contentious, however. were
discredited by other witnesses, includ-
ing passengers on the car who, 1t is
claimed, were in a position to see just
what took place.
President Pratt also denied that
force was required to remove him from
the motormans vestibule, after the
alleged assault.
This statement was disputed by sew
oral witnesses including Starter Ham
ell who assisted in taking Pratt from
the car.
The hearing lasted the greater part
Of the afternoon and when it conclud-
ed it was announced that both Pratt
and Desjardins had been suspended
from the company's employ. Further
than that, the companys officials de-
clined to state what, if any, future
action was contemplated.
1t is understood that legal action will
be instituted against both men. by Mo-
torman Rutterfield and that also the
company will start proceedings against
the men.
The whole trouble dates back to the
time of the strike of the local carmen.
Butterf1eld and eight other motormen
and conductors, refused to strike and
remained with the company and oper-
ated cars. Since that time, i'll feeling
has existed between them and the I'M