A "CHEAP TRIPPER."

Nelson Evening Mail, 19 October 1905, Page 4

A "CHEAP TRIPPER."

'"LOOKING FOli WORK."

io pose as a railway inspector and travel d»y aft*- clay on cnfef.»es oa- with tii* guard, as fancy •r pj-u-cli-m;"© dictates, is probably tiie most imp,uduvt plan yot- devised: o-f dba-ainin^- i*r«*o railage. The reward; of the lnvufcnuor of this brhli'ant l-d-ca is not yvc dt.-cid.-d upon, out bis name is John, liicfiurdson' ioid ins lame will iwe ong umong" the t."n&'.ne-dri\ers, guards, and- minor a'licials of. ,gh« .London and North Wusle.n Kailway. Tliat corporation has tor q-uife a long time been thj richer for an unpaid rolling stotyc -inspector, -but has iost, fct is computed, soroething oyer £100 in fares, even reckoning liich'ard-son's", trips on a third-class basis. . I'or montha?- Itwhaidson *h a s top in the haibi-t' of taking lengthy trips a. sl Inspector Hunter," ° n ixl indeed explored- the length and breadth of Che company's system under one disguise oa- (another. He would board an engine, and iby a nurpi-isia*^ display off officialism,' coupk/d with ty* ainaaijup- kna wledge ol th-o. inner \*/orl*in^*? : of the'7 company a-nd -a suggestion of engineering knowledge,, h* cojinpletety .hoodwinked not only drivers and .stoker* but also vguards and stationniat'tej*s. .$ '-.. ■.-"* ?'■■ Ono qwe qecjasi'^R.'-he brought- the di-mr ol a J7p-o*dow express off his engine, and owfcrcd h m to examine several intricate parts, of his wigm* fK'fore allowing him to ** proc ,-, Another tiijae* Be uhi eatdtM" to 'sack" a .driver 'because his enyn e was not, clo a n, and ordered owners ."lo pull certain .p'niHs of* their lodoniotivcs lo pieces to satisfy his doubt!*. I'o minor officials he distri,w^d orders wholesale. For *e»i*raJ weeks ho played ttiia ga-ine with impunity, biit then the" real Inspector Hufntei *s correspondence uergjan to be puzzling. . He recoii-'-oc*- Jlfiaimta-t-i-ons . thnt ordjers

he had never givon haid been ful- ■ filled, atad polite suggestions from staitrioTiiniasters and others that J haif-soix-ei'cigns and imckiii-toshes I ho had not borrowed would ;>e wel- J come- if returned.' ' TRc-n alSO* -t'ife bigger authorities in the. conipahy began to find traces of '■•Inspector' Hunter " in place where his duties should not -hay« taken him, and do ng, things which wei*** '.-^uite outsid.* Ir.s k*;.£timate province. Thus Richardson's career came to an end. Appearing' before the Courts he explained that he was really in search of work, !_:ut ho certainly seems to have don** his '"inspecting" very well while it l a stod.