The Washington times., 1904-04-19
VINCENT WALSH
IS FINED 500
For Speeding His "Red
Devil" Automobile.
P0LICEMAN'S WORD TAKEN
Although Elliott Rad No Speedometer
ard Defendant, Who Had, Denied
the Charges.
POLICEMAN'S WORD TAKEN

For operating his red devil" automo-
bite at "a greater rate Of speed than hf-
teen miles an hour on level ground. up
ward OF six miles an hour over the car
tracks and turning the corner of Co
lumbia Road and Eighteenth Street at
2 higher rate than four miles an hour,
Vincent Walsh. son OF Thomas Walsh
was fined $50 by Judge Scott in the city
branch of the Police Court today. The
fine was promptly paid but young
Walsh protested vigorously because he
had been convicted on a policeman's un-
corroborated testimony. while he
(Walsh) had a speedometer which he
says he watched constantly.
Attorney Duvan represented Vincent
ard in arguing the case TO Judge Scott
he said = had been customary in the
court TO have positive testimony that a
policeman used a speedometer Judge
Scott said he had sufficient confidence
in. Policeman EniOtts ability 10 judge
speed and that he would convict on mis-
statement the lad was operating his
machine at q higher rate of speed than
tbs law permitted.
Elliott Is Positive
Policeman Elliott. OF the Tenth pre-
cinct. was the first witness for the
Government. He said he was standing
AT the intersection of Columbia Road
and Eighteenth Street on last Tuesday
afternoon. about 4:S0 o'clock. when nc
saw young Walsh coming along in his
big car. accompanied Sy two girls. FL
n0tI said n did not have a speedOmc-
Ter. but ne was positive that Walsh
turned the corner at a speed much
higher than four miles an hour dashed
across the car tracks al clip OF ab0u-
ten OF twelve mics an hour and when
ne reached level ground turned on suf-
ncient power 10 send him along at
twenty-five mile pace
Efforts on the part Of Attorney DuValI
tO-shalle his story were futile, and after
two or three other Witnesses whose tes-
umOny was not material had been
heard. the defense prepared 10 present
His First Experience.
Young Walsh went on the stand. and.
after neing sworn gave his testimony
in straightforward manner 1t was
his first experience in court, he having
admitted that he forfeited collateral
on several occasions, and did not deny
tnat he had put no so collateral on
three occasions within the last month,
and forfeited Il each time. He explain
q that he did not wish 10 be humiliat-
ed hy attending court as a defendant
and adced that ne did not think il was
anyhodys business il he was able 10
forfeit 80 three times in preference TO
being embarrassed
Walsh explained that he forfeited the
collateral on the other occasions for
another reason. He did not have
soeeoometer and knew ne would not
have chance against a policeman who
toAlg produce his speeGOmeter as evil
aence against him. Recently he said.
he purchased speedOmeIer and fas-
tened II 10 the front or mis- machine
where ne could watch II all the time
he stated positively that he had his
esse on II at the time he was going along
Columbia Road and was sure he had
not exceeded the limit
Judge Scott Satisfied
Mr. Duvan asked thar the rule estab-
hshed by Judge Kimball. Of having the
policemen use speedume1ers, be en-
forced. but Judge Scott said 1t was not
necessary. as he believed Elliott capable
OF telling the speed Of a machine with
oct ii. To refute this. Mr. Duvan adj
duced the testimony Df Policemen
Sweeney and Walsh, Of the Eighth pre-
cinct.
These men have been on the bicycle
force Tor some months. and Mr.. Duval
sCyled them experts. He endeavOred
10 establish IL as a fact that no man
living could stand on a corner and guess
machine was going. This, he averreo,
was what Elliott haQ done, and when
Walsh and Sweeney said they could
not do such a thing. Attorney Duvah
said they had been on the force as long
as Elliott and there was no good rea-
son FOR believing Elliott could 90 things
his brother officers admitted they could
not do. Mr.. Duvan then asked for an
acQuittal. bat Judge Scott imposed a
penalty Of so In each OF the three cases.