Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-20
Resumption of the Hearing in the
Police Court.
PHYSICIANS ON THE WITNESS STAND
Testimony as to Utility Of Rams
Horn Handles.
CASE STILL UNDECIDED

The case Of Fred w. Moore, charged with
violation of the bicycle regulations by
riding a wheel the handle bars of which
were more than four inches below the CEN
ter of the seat, and which was partially
heard by Judge Scott Monday, and con-
tinued, was resumed today.
DR.. William D. Writ, the first witness,
said he is engaged in the geological survey
and is registered physician. He has, he
said. been an officer of the Capital Bicycle
Club for number of years. So far as he
vas aware. there is no regulation similar
to the one in dispute in any other city in
the entire country. In reply to questions
from Mr.. Mackall. counsel for the defense,
he said he had found from statistics that
the chances of accident were in the propor-
ton of 96 to the rider to two to the public
He therefore thought, he said that the
regulations ought to be framed as much
for the protection of the former as the
latter. Speaking from a medical stand
point, he said he believed a low handle bar
was 1ar more desirable and safer than the
upturned bars. He referred, he said en-
tirely to persons who ride wheels for BUSH
ness, not to those who go on pleasure
trips.
On cross-examination by Mr. Pugh DR..
writ said that trick riders use a specialIv
constructed wheel, with upturned handles
he mad never seen Mr.. Michael, the taste ST
rlder In the world. on his wheel, but had
seen pictures of him when mounted He
knew nothing personally, he said. as to
what kind of a wheel Michael rides.
Confined to the City.
Mr.. Pugh asked Dr. Writ If he was
aware that the regulation applied to the
city of Washington and not to the SUBJ
urbs.
hn
further question from Mr.. Pugh, said that
eny hill was hard to climb If the wind was
blowing down hill. He had seen a rider
slide his rear wheel and stop his bicycle
within ten feet. Good riders no longer use
brakes. he said.
Replying to question from Mr.. Mackall.
Dr. Writ said he did not know whether the
idea of making the new regulation was
suggested to the Commissioners by some of
the local riders, or whether 1T was "a
chicken Of the Commissioners own hatch
ing
At this point the testimony for the de-
Tense was closed
DR.. Francis A. ST. Clair was called in re-
buttal by Mr.. Pugh. The witness said he
had been a bicycle rider for two and half
years. but all his experience had been with
upturned bars.
Mr.. Mackall interposed an objection to
the testimony of the witness on the ground
that never having used turned-down bar
he was not qualified to speak on the SUBJ
ject.
The objection was overruled, and counsel
for defense noted an exception.
ResCming, the witness testified that in
his opinion rider would have more control
over his wheel if he maintained a COM
parat.vely erect position than in a crouched
attitude.
The CrOuched Position.
Cross-examined by Mr. Mackall DR.. ST.
Clair said he had been practicing ply
siciar i'll the District for eight years, and
that there was no doubt whatever thai
riding in crouched position was some
times hurtful to the chest and heart of the
rider.
Mr.. Mackall asked that the answers of
the witness. SO far as they related to
health, be stricken out. The Commission
ers, he claimed. had no more right to say
how person should sit on bicycle sad
die than on chair.
Judge Scott denied Mr.. MackalPS request,
and the latter noted an exception.
DR.. J. r. hewitt said he had been q
bicycle rider off and on since 1880 He had
been able to secure better control over
his wheel with an unturned than with drop
bar The field of vision was also, he said,
restricted to those who used a drop bar.
Asked by Mr.. Pugh if he had ever had
sny accidents. Mr.. Mackall interrupted the
witness to file an objection, that the ques-
ton of accidents Gid not enter into the
question at issue.
The objection was overruled by the court,
and DR.. hewitt said he vas twice run into
and injured by men riding drop-bar ma
chimes
Mr.. Mackall noted an exception.
DIR. HIS Views.
DR.. Garnett L. Hills said he had been a
bicycle rider for about nineteen years. DR..
Hills said he did not consider crouched
position safe one, and that a rider could