Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-06-22
prohibition AGENTS
Use PISTOLS OH
PASSENGERS

j. G.. SHELTON Describes Outrageous
Treatment on Train Between
Washington and Richmond.
RAILROAD WILL TAKE ACTION
Officials Are Determined to Break Up|
Illegal Raiding Of Trains, and to
Provide Protection Of Travellers and
Their Baggage.
Vigorous steps for tho protection Of
passengers and their baggage from
the activity of special agents repre-
senting the State Prohibition Depart
mcnt will be taken by officers of the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac Railroad Company it was IN
nounced yesterday following numer-
GUS recent raids on the trains OF the
railroad. Officials declared thmt the
practices OF the prohibition agents
were not only illegal but that they
mad assaulted passengers and search
ed their baggage while en route to
this city.
Prohibition agents are reported to
have been working with great rcgu
larity in recent weeks. The early
train from Washington yesterday was
boarded Il short distance from AleXan
dria and many passengers searched.
Persons travelling in sleeping ears
were rudcly awakened and their bag
gage examined. Many suit cases were
taken from the train before it arrived
In this city. IT is presumed that they
contained liquor.
PRACTICES OF DRY" AGENTS
ALARM RAILROAD OFFICIALS.
Practices Of the prohibition agents
have reached such stage it was
declared that action Will be taken by
the railroad company for the protcc
ton OF its passengers. The railroad
desires no cooperate in the legal en
forccmcnt of the prohibition law dc
clared Eppa Huntcn, Jr., general
counsel yesterday but feels that it
owes to passengers and patrons the
duty of protecting their 5erson sri
baggage from unlawful interference
commissioner Peters published in
the papers this morning" Mr. Hunton
said last night, "a statement calling
upon the Mayor to support those po
ltcemon who have made mistakes
end illegally searched the ha1rnsn OF
innocent pcople.' Can any fair mind
ed man support Mr.. Peters repro
sentatives in their violation OF the
citizens right Of security Of person
and property by assaults and search
as admitted to be illegal and which
are of frequent occurrence?
OFFICERS ATTACK RICHMOND
MAN IN OUTRAGEOUS MANNER
Mr.. IIunton cited the recent assault
upon j. G. Shelton Of 1926 West
Avenue who was returning to Rich
mond from Washington. In his trav
cling bag which he refused to open
were certain government plans. Two
prohibition agents dcmcndcd that
the bag be opened and after a heated
discussion Mr.. Shelton YVES attacked
Both officers are said 10 have drawn
their rcvolvers anC to have attempted
to place handouts on MIR. Skeletons
wrists. This case has been investig at-
ed by The railroad company and the
matter laiN bcforc Commissioner
Peters.
Mr.. Skclton described the attack
to Mr.. Hunion i the following sign
cd statement:
referring to my conversation with
you relative to my trouble with Offi-
GERS Payne and Brickcr ell train No.
55 from Washington to Richmond on
the seventh instant, trouble having
occurred between Alexandria and
Quantico. Va.
81 was sitting in tho day coach just
ahead Of the Pullman by the side Of
an old gentleman (strangcr) reading
a newspaper when he turned to me
and remarked that some officers were
searching the train for whisky I re
piled, "Is that So" and continued read
ing.
CONDUCTOR HAD PENCILED NO
TICE OF AUTHORITY FOR IN
QUnRY.
"a little later on one Of the officers
came up looked at my grip and pass
cd on. | paid no attention to him and
cont inucd to road for few minutes
after which I went back in the smoll
CT TO have a smoke: this apartment
being crowded, I walked out in front
OF the car (vcstibulo cnd) and was
smoking when the conductor came
through. I stopped him and asked if
the officers had a right to search a
Strip without warrant for the person
to whom the same belonged and sur
ficient description Of the grip to be
searched
"Thc conductor replied: We'll T
don't know but here is what have
ON it. and presented n ncnciI mcmOran
dun which lie said was part Of the
paper which had been served ON him.
l then remarked to him Conductor
that I had no whisky in my grip but
that I did have somc blue prints and
papers IN there relative 10 govern
mcnt business which 7 did not care
FOR any one to know about and there
'r"o would not allow any one TO soc
in my grin unless they produced their
authority for doing so or tha, bn
fc"ndurtor) ordered mo to opon it,.
would he Present a. the time AMI as
sIrcd ne thot the railroal would n.,
RESPONSIBLE for his act.
Ia