Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-26
WHAT wa ARE COMING no.
Advance Report OF . Police Court Case II


Advance Report of . Police Court Case In
| the Year 1905.
"what is the chargss" asked the judge
"The prisoner Is charged" answered
the clerk, with violation Of the pedestrian
law and with criminal negligence result
ing in injuries to one Thcmas Wheeler. I"
The officer who made the arrest was
sworn.
what Is your nameS"
Patrick McSpoke, lieutenant"
"You belong to the Riverside Cycle
IIuadi"
"Yes, your honor"
"Relate the particulars Of the arrest
eat half past 9 yesterday afternoon, T"
stated the lieutenant, "whila on duty near
the Thirty-fourth cycle relief house, my
attention was attracted by criss OF dismay
and terror from near by. Quickly pedaling
my way through the throng, found that
the prisoner had climbed the fence divid-
| ing the street from the sidewalk and was
attempting to cross the boulevard. He
had reached the middle and had already
collided with several cyclers when l saw
him. blew my whistle for assistance,
and Officers O'Pedal and Merlin rode
quickly to the scene. The prisoner had
paused directly in the middle of the street,
and he stood there motionless, striking
terror to tina hearts Of approaching cyclers.
One Thomas Wheeler, who was coming
down the street, did not see the prisoner
until about IL feet distant He Immediate
ly attempted to avoid the prisoner by turn
ing to the left. At the same moment tic
prisoner stepped backward Wheeler then
turned sharply to the right and the pris-
oner stepped forward again. At that mo-
ment the two came together and Wheeler
was thrown violently from his wheel, re-
ceiving severe injuries about the face and
upper part of the body. The prisoner was
knocked down. by the collision into the
track of several riders, who were also
thrown from their wheels and more or less
severely bruised. The cycle ambulance
was quickly summoned and Wheeler was
conveyed to the Third District Cycle hos
pital The prisoner was Immediately tax
en- into custody"
Lieutenant MoSpoke stepped down and
the prisoner took the stand He was a
slight, middle aged man and bore terrible
evidences of his crime. His face was band
aged SO that only one eye and bit Of his
nose were visible as he hobbled painfully
to the stand on crutches.
"Your names" asked the judge
"Henry Foote.'
"You have heard the evidence of Officer
McSpoke9"
"Yes, your honor"
"Haye you anything to say in extenua-
tion of your crime9"
"Well, your honor, 1t was like this:
was due at half past at friends house
to take dinner with him. was unavoid-
ably delayed and it was 25 minutes after
when left the house. live almost ep-
posite the Thirty fourth rest house and
there Is no pedestrian bridge nearer than
six blocks in either direction. My friend
house was almost opposite and was late,
and so II thought I could cross the
boulevard all right, as there were few cy-
clers In sight at the moment. got over
the fence and had reached the middle Of
the street when the sound of bell being
loudly rung short distance away confused
me, and stopped The bicycler continued
to ring, and stepped backward to get out
of his way At the same time he swung to
the left, and stepped forward again. He
then turned to the right, and-and that's
all remember until found myself in the
cycle patrol"
''You knew, 1 presume, that tit is against
the law to walk upon the streets set aside
for the exclusive use of bicyclers?" asked
the judge.
Eyes, your honor, but there were SO few
cyclers in sight, and was in a hurry, and
the nearest bridge was six blocks up
town.
"That willdo. Your excuse Is iseytrarne!-
weak. This city has been terrorized long
enough by pedestrians of your stamp, who
entertain neither regard for the law nor
pity for their victims / shall sentence you
to the fullest extent in the hope that your
case may prove an example to others You
are therefore sentenced to six months in
jail and to pay fine of $500. only re-
gret that the law does not provide severer
penalty Call the next case"
And the evening papers headed it can
other Pedestrian Outrage" - Richard
Stillman Powell in Truth.