The record-union., 1898-09-13
He WAS DRIVING TOO FAST.
THE LELONG-REESE SPRINT
ON X STREET.
How the Accident to ". 3. Nc
CATCHY Occurred-Mr. Lelong
Admits His Error.

ou tNGlllllS lcol -. A'A.
long, while driving on K street, pc
tween Sixteenth and Seventeenth, col
hded with V. S. McClatchy, who was
mounted on a bicycle, wrecking the
wheel and bruising the rider.
Mr.. Lelong and Under Sheriff DAVID
Reese. the former in a buggy, the lat
ter in a cart, were driving along the
street. when they overlook Mr. NC
CATCHY, who was unable to get out or
the way before being run down by Mr.
Lelongs buggy.
Lelong and Reese were arrested on
a charge of violating the ordinance pro-
hibiting fast driving on the puplc
streets. The cases were called in the
City Justices Court yesterday morn
ing, and Mr. Lelong, through his at
torney, Eugene Aram, entered a plea
of guilty.
Justice Davis desired to hear some
evidence in the case. so as to get a
clear idea of the circumstances before
passing sentence. Attorney Aram pro-
tested against any attorney assisting
in the inquiry, and cited the section
of the code which specifies that Judge
may question witnesses with view to
defendant has pleaded guilty.
Judson C. Brusie, who had been re-
tanned by the Capital City Wheelmen
to prosecute the cases, suggested that
the trial of Reese be proceeded with,
and by that means the court would
become familiar with the Lelong case.
Mr.. Reese acted as his own attorney,
and said the arrangement was entirely
satisfactory to him.
V. S. McClatchy was the first wit
ness called by the prosecution. He
said that on the evening of September
Sth himself and Arthur Williams were
wheeling out K street, between Six
teenth and Seventeenth. He heard
rush behind, and looking over his
shoulder he saw a horse coming up at
a high rate of speed. Mr.. Williams
was next to the curb, and the witness
could not escape in that direction. He
thereupon saw another horse coming
up. and saw that his only escape was
to get between the two vehicles, and
allow one to pass on either side OF
him.
Everything happened in moment s
time, and the next thing witness knew
he felt a shock and was thrown to
the ground. He got up Immediately,
and both vehicles were about half
block away He was watching the
man in the buggy, and did not know
whether or not Reese looked back.
The witness said he was on the right
hand side of the street going east, and
that the horses were going in the same
direction. He was moving at rate
Of about five miles an hour. He paid
little attention to the man in the cart
(Reese).
Arthur Williams testified that he
was wheeling with Mr.. McClatchy
when the latter was run down. The
horses We're close up when the wit
ness first saw them, and the smash
was over before he had time to make
a movement to get out of the way.
1t was about o'clock in the evening
and quite light.
AS soon as Mr.. McClatchy had been
run down the witness gave his atten-
ton to assisting him until he found he
was not severely injured. When he
looked after the rigs they were so far
away that he could not positively
identify either occupant. The witness
identified the wrecked wheel, which was
in court, as the one Mr.. McClatchy
had ridden.
Under Sheriff Reese conducted the
cross-examiantion on his own behalf,
and asked the witness whether or not
the horse he (Reese) was driving was
not ahead of that driven by the other
man The witness did not know, and
could not even tell the color of the
horse
Matt Becken testified that he was at
Sixteenth and K streets when Mr.. Nc
CATCHY was run down. He identified
Messrs. Reese and Lelong as the men
who were driving the horses attached
to the buggy and cart. In his opinion
the horses were moving at a three
minute clip, or. twenty miles an hour.
On ross-examination the witness
testified that as the two men were
driving up the street Reese struck back
with his whip, as though he was try
ing to strike Lelong's horse on the
head. After that both men turned and
went down the street again.
L. J. Romer was the first witness
called for the defense. He testified
that at Fourteenth street the man in
the buggy was driving very recklessly.
He struck Reese's horse on the back
with his whip several times, and the
animal became uncomfortable. In the
vicinity Of Sixteenth street Reese drop
ped his whip and went back to get it.
Lelong also turned, and both rigs after
ward came up street at less than a
three minute clip. Both men drove out
as far as Thirty first street, and went
thence toward the north levee.
On cross examination the witness
said that after Reese had come back
for his whip Lelong also went back,
and both horses swung into line with
a pretty start. Lelong struck Reese's S
horse and both flew up the street. To
the best of witness recollection Reese
did not get his whip when he went
back up the street Reese did not
have his whip In his hand when Nc
Clatchy was run down.
Newman testified that he had seen
Lelong whip Reese's horse in the vi
cinity of Fifteenth street. Reese's S
horse started to run and ran up the
street as far as Sixteenth street. Both
horses We're going fast before Lelong
struck ReeSe's horse. Reese dropped
his whip near Fifteenth street, drove
on to Sixteenth, and then returned for
it. Lelong also returned, and as both
turned east again a boy handed Reese
his whip. Lelong struck Reese's horse
again, and both went out the street
together, Reese's horse running, Le-
longs trotting.
Mr.. Reese took the stand in his own
behalf. He said on the evening in
question Lelong overlook him between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, and
playfully tapped his horse three or four
times. Witness said he was not de-