Evening journal., 1918-07-26
JUDGE RICE Scores
Street CAR service
Says Company is Negligent
in Manner of Operat-
ing Cars
PAROLES CONDUCTOR
WHO POCKETED FARES

When Harry Il. Gelrger. representing
the Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
tion Company, took the stand in the
Court OF Common Pleas this morning.
which was plead Guilty Day. 10 ex-
hort the court 10 give 20 William
Thompson the fun penalty OF the law
for the embezzlement OF car-fares from
the company, Judge Rice grasped the
opportunity 20 set forth his views con-
cerning the traction company.
His attack on the manner OF oper-
alton Of the cars OF the traction com
pany was bitter He stated he uses
the trolley lines three and four times
every day, and has noted inefficient SER
vice and ifs detriment 10 human lives.
lie declared that the traction company
n his opinion, Is guilty OF criminal
negligence" even more guilty OF crime
than the young man whom they were
so vigorously prosecuting.
Thompson. who Is eighteen years old,
admitted that he has knocked down"
fares 10 the amount OF about twenty
dollars. Mr.. Geiger requested to be al
lowed 10 take the stand, saying that he
was authorized by the directors OF the
company 10 talk for them. He said that
for some time past. discrepancies IN
the returns OF the conductors OF the
lines have been noticeable, and that the
company asked that Thompson be sent
over" not because he Is Thompson, but
as a warning 10 all other car men. Az
this point Judge Rice took occasion TO
utter his comment.
He referred 90 the improper running
OF the cars, and the permitting OF men,
on their way 10 and from work. TO hang
from every possible part OF the cars,
even from the roofs. He scored the
company for thus risking human lives.
lie also remarked about the company
allowing new conductors 10 go out on
runs Immediately upon their being
hired, even though they never had any
experience. He cited an instance OF
youth Who went for a Job as a con-
ductor on the cars, and Immediately
he wss put on a car. lie had had no
experience IN that line OF work.
Mr.. Gelger offered the shortage Of
labor as a reason for some OF these
conditions.
rs that any excuse for risking human
Iiyes2 Is the operation OF your cars
more important than human livesf" de-
manded the judge.
Judge Rice asked Mr.. Geiger n he did
not know that the switch light on
trolley line, where an accident occurred
recently. had been out from o'clool
thar afternoon and tlia' that was tm
cause OF the conflicting signals, q
which the traction oompsny repreeen
tative said that he did not know Il unit
after the accident
The Judge reiterated his statemer
that the company was guilty OF "orin
inal negligence" and should haN
known that The light was out Of ordel
"You are guilty Of criminal negli
eence and feel you ought TO be In jail
YOU are more guilty than this mai
| ,Tbompson)." declared the Judge.
The Judge explained that In you,
ne did not mean Mr.. Geiger person
ally, but the company whom ne repre-
sented.
Judge Rice said that he had no pa
flence with the company for the man
ner in which they run their cars. In
referring TO men being permitted TO
ride on the sides and roofs Of trolley
cars. he said:
Suppose one of the men were killed.
Then you would be up I'm court for MS
DEATH" and he added, warmly, Il hope
II anyone is killed that I sit in the
case
He said that n a director Of the trac-
ton company were before him To-Day
for a criminal offense, that both ne
and Thompson would go 10 the work
house. but that as II IS he would make
the sentence light for the youth he
did not accede TO the request OF the
traction company 10 have Thompson
sent 10 the workhouse, and paroled
him 10 Special Agent Stout Tor TWO
years. and ordered him TO return the
$40 that he embezzled.
Judge Rice warned Thompson about
practicing stealing.