"The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Wednesday, August 20, 1913 END TO A DEPOT PIONEER. William Beal CLAGETT, 50 years old, for twenty-nine years an auditor and ticket agent at the Union Depot, died of a complication of diseases at the South Side Hospital last night. Mr. CLAGETT had been in failing health for some time and last month he was obliged to give up his duties at the depot and seek rest. A short trip West seemed to benefit him, but he sank gradually after his return. Mr. CLAGETT was one of the most widely known railroad ticket agents in the West. He began his duties at the Union Depot in May, 1883. The following September he left his position to accept another with the old Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf system. In January, 1884, he returned to this city and again went to work at Union Depot, remaining there up to the time of his death. Mr. CLAGETT was the originator of a card stub method of selling railroad tickets which has been put into effect all over the country. He noticed the looseness with which accounts were handled in the depot and devised a plan by which every agent who sold tickets was held directly responsible. Any irregularities could be traced to their source by means of the stubs which were attached to every ticket sold. This system was perfected by Mr. CLAGETT under H. W. MILLSPAUGH, who then was in charge of the depot. In the discharge of his duties at the station Mr. CLAGETT came into contact with thousands of people and made a host of friends by his genial personality. Not once in the twenty-nine years of his service was the slightest mistake found in any of his accounts, and when traveling auditors checked up the books of the depot they were guided in their work by the perfect records of the assistant general ticket agent. Mr. CLAGETT is survived by a widow, Mrs. Helen A. CLAGETT; two daughters, Mrs. J. F. DONALDSON and Miss Helen CLAGETT; his father, two brothers and a sister. ====================================================== (I have no connection with this family but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful.) johnobrien@kc.rr.com ======================================================