Camden Post-Telegram, March 26, 1906View transcription
PENNY CAUSED LIVELY SET-TO
Negro and Conductor on Electric Car in a Mix-up Over Missing Cent.
WITNESSES DISPUTE TROLLEY MAN'S TALE
With a Freeholder testifying on one side and a Public Service Corporation conductor on the other, a case of drunk and disorderly conduct seemed to resolve itself into a question of veracity in Police Court this morning, and Recorder Stackhouse settled the difficulty by suspending sentence on the defendant, who was Harry Holmes, a young colored man.
The complainant was H. Selby, a trolley car conductor. Selby swore that Holmes tendered him a quarter in payment for his fare, but Holmes claimed that he was a cent short in the change given him. The missing penny had dropped on the floor of the car and the conductor called Holmes' attention to the fact.
For an answer, Conductor Selby said, the colored man drew a blackjack, but he landed on him before he had a chance to use the weapon. Selby said the man was drunk at the time.
Conductor Selby's evidence, however, was at direct variance with that of Policeman Howard Smith and Freeholder Larry Rhoades, of the Eighth ward.
Freeholder Rhoades testified that when the car had passed Broadway and Cherry street, where Holmes said he wanted to get off, the conductor caught him by the shoulder and, saying "—— you, get off here," pushed him off the platform and had an officer lock him up.
"Did you see him have a jack?" asked Recorder Stackhouse.
"No, sir" replied Mr. Rhoades, "and to make sure of it I had the policeman search him, but he found no such weapon on him."
"Who struck the first blow?"
"The conductor. He not only pushed him off the car, but followed him up and struck him."
Recorder Stackhouse recalled Policeman Howard Smith, which by the way was his first arrest, and asked him if Holmes had a blackjack on him when he searched him at Freeholder Rhoades' behest and he replied no.
Recorder Stackhouse suspended sentence on Holmes, after Freeholder Rhoades had stated that he had known Holmes' father before the latter was born and never knew him to be drunk or disorderly.
Negro and Conductor on Electric Car in a Mix-up Over Missing Cent.
WITNESSES DISPUTE TROLLEY MAN'S TALE
With a Freeholder testifying on one side and a Public Service Corporation conductor on the other, a case of drunk and disorderly conduct seemed to resolve itself into a question of veracity in Police Court this morning, and Recorder Stackhouse settled the difficulty by suspending sentence on the defendant, who was Harry Holmes, a young colored man.
The complainant was H. Selby, a trolley car conductor. Selby swore that Holmes tendered him a quarter in payment for his fare, but Holmes claimed that he was a cent short in the change given him. The missing penny had dropped on the floor of the car and the conductor called Holmes' attention to the fact.
For an answer, Conductor Selby said, the colored man drew a blackjack, but he landed on him before he had a chance to use the weapon. Selby said the man was drunk at the time.
Conductor Selby's evidence, however, was at direct variance with that of Policeman Howard Smith and Freeholder Larry Rhoades, of the Eighth ward.
Freeholder Rhoades testified that when the car had passed Broadway and Cherry street, where Holmes said he wanted to get off, the conductor caught him by the shoulder and, saying "—— you, get off here," pushed him off the platform and had an officer lock him up.
"Did you see him have a jack?" asked Recorder Stackhouse.
"No, sir" replied Mr. Rhoades, "and to make sure of it I had the policeman search him, but he found no such weapon on him."
"Who struck the first blow?"
"The conductor. He not only pushed him off the car, but followed him up and struck him."
Recorder Stackhouse recalled Policeman Howard Smith, which by the way was his first arrest, and asked him if Holmes had a blackjack on him when he searched him at Freeholder Rhoades' behest and he replied no.
Recorder Stackhouse suspended sentence on Holmes, after Freeholder Rhoades had stated that he had known Holmes' father before the latter was born and never knew him to be drunk or disorderly.
