Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-03
ARE ACTIVE
Rigid Enforcement Of Auto
mobile Law.
FOUR MORE ARRESTS
FAILING TO APPEAR IN COURT,
COLLATERAL FORFEITED.
John Bowles, Colored, Fined $25, Takes
an Appeal-The Crusade
Continues.

The police are continuing their crusade
against automobilists who insist In running
their machines at more excessive rate of
speed than permitted by law. Four per-
sons were required during yesterday and
last night to deposit collateral at one OF
the several station houses for alleged vio
lations of the law. None Of them appeared
in court this morning, and the securities
went into the Golfers Of the District.
Because of the small amount of collateral
which has been accepted at the station
houses when arrests have been made Maj
Sylvester last night issued an order which
went into effect this morning which makes
$40 the smallest amount to be taken in the
future.
Residents of Northeast Washington who
reside along the line Of Maryland avenue,
and H streets, the routes taken by per-
sons in horseless vehicles to and from the
races have complained about the manner
in which the machines are operated along
those thoroughfares. 1t Is said parents in
that section are much alarmed for fear
their children will be knocked down and
run over because of the manner in which
the chauffeurs race, often attaining the
speed OF a fast railroad train.
Bowles, Fined $25, Appeals.
John Bowles colored. chauffeur en-
ployed by j. NJ. Watson Of 1920 Columbia
road. who was arrested by Mounted Po-
liceman Rollins for running automobile
at an excessive rate of speed along Co.
lumbia road and Connecticut avenue Tues
day, appeared in court for trial today and
entered a plea of not guilty.
Attorney D. w. Baker, counsel for the
defendant. explained to Judge Kimball.
that If convicted his client was subject
to fine of $40. the highest penalty fixed
by law, and he would demand jury
trial.
Judge Kimball overruled the motion on
the ground that persons charged with an
offense not punishable by fine of $50
or more were not entitled to trial by jury.
and announced his intention of applying
to the Court Of Appeals for writ Of
error on the ground that the defendant
was entitled to trial by jury.
The court after hearing the evidence adj
judged Bowles guilty and imposed a fine
OF $25, and released him on $50 collateral
until the matter is disposed of by the
Court Of Appeals.
the government testified that last Tues
day he followed Bowles along Columbia
road and down Connecticut avenue to Du-
pont Circle the machine running as high
as twenty-four miles an hour while in
Columbia road and twenty-five miles
hour while in Connecticut avenue. The
officer said he had two speed indicators on
his bicycle, each of which registered alike
Bowles said that he was confident that
he at no time exceeded speed of twelve
miles an hour.
why" he declared, I'm New York
chauffeur and we have to run our ma
chimes at a rate of not more than eight
miles an hour over there and guess am
able to Judge speed by this time, having
been in the business for four years"
Mrs. Watson, who was in the machine at
the time of the arrest. said she was posi-
tive that it was running at slow rate of
speed because neither the trimmings on her
ice god
by the wind.
Representative Sibley's Complaint.
Representative J. C. Sibley of Pennsyl-
vania, who resides near 18th and K streets
northwest. complained to Major Sylvester
at police headquarters late yesterday after
noon that while he and Mrs. Sibley were
riding in their horseless carriage near Goth
and L streets northwest Wednesday after
noon, a similar vehicle, operated by a COL
ored man, approached him from the rear
and collided with his machine, damaging
the running gear In such manner that
serious accident might have resulted, only
that he was able to bring his machine to
stop almost instantly
The major, after listening to the COM
plant and taking description of the par
ties in the other vehicle and of the machine
itself, detailed a bicycle officer to investi-
gate the matter, and it was learned that
Bowles was the chauffeur in that instance
also.
DR.. Frank E. Gibson of 927 1 street north
west was overhauled by Mounted Police
man Forteney while speeding his machine
down 9th street northwest at a rate OF
eighteen miles an hour yesterday afternoon.
He forfeited S. collateral, as did also DIR.
John Stearns, who was captured by Mount
ed Policeman Lauten while averaging a
speed of seventeen miles an hour K
street northwest last night.
Lawrence Jewett, was travelling at a
speed Of twenty-four miles an hour last
night along 18th street, when Mounted
Policeman Green appeared on the scene and
acted as an escort to the station house,
where Jewett left SO, which he forfeited in
court today,
John H. Moreland was arrested by Police
man Vanderwalker for a similar offense in
MARYLAND avenue northeast. and forfeited