Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-06-22
PROHIBITION AGENTS
Use PISTOLS ON
PASSENGERS
j. G.. Shelton Describes Outrageous
Treatment on Train Between
Washington and Richmond.

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 repro
senting the State Prohibition Depart
ment will be taken by officers OF the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Poto.
mac Railroad Company it was an
nounced yesterday following numer-
Gus recent raids on the trains OF the
railroad. Officials declared thnt tho
practices OF the prohibition agents
were not only illegal but TINT they
Nad assaulted passengers and search
ed their baggage while Ell 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 n short distance from Alexan
dria and many passengers searched.
Persons travelling in sleeping cars
were rudely awakened and their bag
gage examined. Many suit cases were
taken from tho train before It arrived
In this city. 1t is presumed that They
contained liquor.
PRACTICES OF "DRY" AGENTS
ALARM lqAILROAD OFFICIALS.
Practices Of the prohibition agents
have reached such Il stage It was
declared that action will be taken by
tho railroad company for the protec
ton OF It's passengers. The railroad
desires ITO cooperate in the legal en-
forcemcnt of tho prohibition law do
clared Eppa Hunton, Jr., general
counsel yesterday but feels that 1t
owes to passengers and patrons tho
duty of protecting their ,erson s.rd
baggage from unlawful interference.
commissioner Peters published in
the papers this morning." Mr.. Hunton
said last night, "a statement calling
npon the Mayor to support those pc
lcemcn who have mnde mistakes
and illegally searched the 'begr;ag,S Of
innocent people, Can any fair mind
ed man support Mr.. Peters repre-
sentatives in their violation OF the
citizens right OF security of person
and property by assaults and search
cs admitted to DO illegal and which
are OF frequent occurrence?
OFFICERS ATTACK RICHMOND
MAN IN OUTRAGEOUS MANNEE.
Mr.. Hunton cited the recent assault
upon J. G. Shelton Of 1926 West
Avenue who was returning to Rich
mond from Washington. In his trnv
cling bag which he refused to open
were certain government plans. Two
prohibition agents dcmcndcd that
the bag be opened and after q heated
discussion Mr.. Skclton was attacked.
Both officers are said 10 have drawn
their rcvolvers anC to have attempted
to place handouts on Mr.. Skeletons
wrists. This case has been Investigate
ed by the railroad company and the
matter laiG befonc Commissioner
Peters.
Mr.. Shelton described the attack
to Mr.. Hunton il the following sign
cd statement:
"Referring to my conversation with
you relative to my trouble with Off
GERS Payne and Bricker Gil train No.
30 from Washington to Richmond on
the seventh instant, trouble having
occurred between Alexandria and
QuanticO, Va.
81 was sitting in the day coach just
ahead OF the Pullman by the side Of
an old gentleman (stranger) reading
a newspaper when he turiied to me
and remarked that some officers were
searching the train for whisky. I 70
n1loI "TS thof or
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
continued to read for fcw minutes
after which I went back in the smok
or Ito have a smoke; this apartment
being crowded, I walked out in front
of the car (vestibulo cnd) and was
smoking when the conductor came
through. I stopped him and asked If
the officers had a right to search a
grip without warrant for the person
to whom the same belonged and q sur
ficicnt description Of the grip to be
searched.
"Thc conductor replied: We'll.
don't know but here is what I have
on it, and presented a pencil mcmoran
dunn which he said was a part OF tho
paper which had been served on him.
l then remarked to him Conductor
That | had no whisky in my grip but
that I did have some blue. prints and
papers in there relative to govern
ment business which 7 did not care
FOR any one to know about and there
ft"o would not allow any one TO sec
in my grin unless they produced their
authority for doing so or that he