The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03
ERIE PRESIDENT
GETS ARRESTED
Underwood Becomes Martyr to
Give Ferryboat Seats to
Women and Babes.
TEST ON MUNICIPAL LINE
Buys Two Tickets to Staten
Island for Round Trip, but
Lands in Court.

Reports having been received that
most Of the Erie Railroad trains were
running on time yesterday afternoon
and that the week end rush was being
taken care of satisfactorily. Frederick
D. Underwood. president OF that trans
portation system, put on his white
duck suit and white yachting cap and
we mt out and got arrested-self-sacri-
ficingly. disinterestedly and for the
benefit OF the women and children VI
New York city.
Mr.. Underwood proposes to see, he
says, whether the city of New. York
has a right to order people who have
gone down to st. George, Staten ISL
and, on one OF the municipal ferry
boats for the sail, and who intend re-
turning to the Battery on the same
craft, to leave their seats and pile
ashore and stream back on hoard
again with the crowd behind the gates.
He thinks II unreasonable and illegal
and has enlisted the services of an
attorney to aid him in demonstrating
the fact.
AS a preliminary step Mr.. Underwood
bought two tickets at the Battery yes
terday before he boarded the ferryboai
Brooklyn and seated himself near the
' after rail. When the boat docked at st
George he still sat there. Two of the
| ferry agents noticed him, after the other
passengers had all left, and ordered him
! ashore. Mr.. Underwood rendered his
return ticket, but refused to bulge from
his seat. After arguing fcr a time tht
agents called the policeman on duty
aboard. who placed Mr.. Underwood
under arrest.
Rides to Court in Taxicab.
1t Is two miles from st. George to tht
! Stapleton police station. and Mr. Under
wood chartered taxi. in which he anC
the policeman and the two complainant!
| seated themselves. He was lined up be
fore Lieut.. Vissers. who was on desl
duty, and charged with disorterly con
duct. Not until then did Mr. Underwood
reveal his identity. w.lich he established
by means of his railroad passes and tn
gold badge he wears as head of the Fri
system.
/ Ball was fixed at $500 and Mr.. Under
wood discovered that he had overlooke
the precaution of bringing any consider
able sum with him. He thought for
moment and then took a diamond rim
from his finger. which he offered as sc
curity for his appearance Wednesda
morning before Magistrate Williar
Croak at New Brighton. He told Lieu
Vissers that the ring was worth $4,000
but the policeman shook his head.
a messenger was sent out for Thoma
r. MCKINLEY, an undertaken and Demo
cratic district leader and friend c
needy railroad presidents and other
Pending his arrival Mr.. Underwood wa
not placed in a cell. but was allowed III
run of the station house.
Mr.. Mckinley offered real estate wort
81 900 as bail, and 1t was accepted an
Mr.. Underwood was released. As 500
as they learned who their prisoner wa
the police at once became uncommun
} ! catiye. They refused TO give out III
} name Of the policeman who made th
| arrest or who were the two agents VIII
appeared as complainants.
Testing Objectionable Rule.
But Mr.. Underwood was less reticen
: He said that his idea Of testing Il
right of the city to order passenger
= with return trip tickets ashore at S
. George was born a fortnight ago whe
I he made the trip for the first time tn
summer. He explained that he had
comfortable seat, but that when he can
aboard with the city bound crowd aft
: having been ordered ashore he four
the boat so crowded with shipyal
workers that no seats were left and
: had to stand all the way 10 the Ba
, terry.
I 81 came over here on this ride" el
{ plained Mr.. Underwood, because / ha'
; heard that women with babies and sma
! children who arc In the habit OF usir
the ferries to give their youngsters q
airing are forced 10 leave the Dol
{ when II touches Staten Island go Ol
the gate and return by the usual FL
a trance IN competition with workers g.
3 ing to Manhattan from the shipyard
I'm days gone by 1t was not neee
0 sary to leave the boat, and / see
reason why the city officials should n
make every effort now TO protect Il
4 people on the ferries as the policy
In everything else where public servl
corporations are concerned"
d Mr.. Underwood said that a passeng
I might buy a return ticket to any st
e tion on the Erie Railroad and rema
q in the car and ride back on the ira
without leaving It II ne wished.
~ should think any one ought 10
permitted TO do on a municipal fer
boat what they are on the Erie"
said.