The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-17
ANOTHER EXAMPLE.


 The Advertiser has on several oc- casions referred to reckless. if not really murderous, drivers and owners of automobiles. and the vengeful spirit likely to be aroused by their methods. Another incident of the kind we have commented on occurred last Saturday evening at Egg Harbor. N. J. MT. Grammar and family were returning from farmers picnic when an auto ran into the rear of the carriage, upset ing 1t and throwing the occupants out All of them were hurt. Mrs. Grammar having one arm and several ribs broken. besides other injuries. The account adds:
 As soon as the party in the auto mobile saw what they had done they quickly removed their numbers and ex- painted number of the State license. Without waiting to ascertain If any one was hurt the automobile party hastened away.
 Such conduct as that described in this extract strengthens the opinion more than once expressed in these columns, ! that the people will be driven. if such things continue, to arm themselves for self protection. The people in this auto were not only murderous but cowardly. They evidently paid no heed to what they were doing. thereby showing themselves to be of a murderous dis position, and they were cowardly enough to hide their identity and to try to escape the consequences of their acts.
 While on this subject we notice that in Philadelphia a chauffeur. who was out for a ride in the absence of the owner of the machine. ran over child | while driving beyond the legal speed. The account does not say how badly 1 fore whom the reckless driver was | tried, fined him s10o and sentenced him to eighteen months Imprisonment. This 1 was not a heavy fine If the child was seriously injured. but 1t may at least be a useful lesson to others. It will be impossible to curb the murderous habit, if only fines are imposed, but if | term in jail can be added 1t is to | be hoped that 1t will have a good ef- | feet In the case of those who crashed into MT. Graumans carriage we should l say that about ten years would be a | fair sojourn in prison for their act And we repeat that if such recklessness can be stopped in no other way the time is bound to come when people will protect themselves
 And while on this subject we must call attention to another recent example and to remark made by The New York Post in connection with 1t. On l Sunday evening a heavy touring car travelling through the Bronx district I ran over and killed laboring man, and as is usually the case. the men in the car. instead of stopping to inquire into the damage done. or to give aid if necessary dashed away into the dark ness and escaped" Commenting on this case The Post, while deploring ii and others of like nature says: That all such accidents are unintentional and many actually unavoidable. is obvious"
 With due respect to The Post, wt deny the obviousncss. and disagree witf the inference. If there is one thing obvious in connection with these auto. mobilists 1t is that they assume that the streets and highways belong tc them and that all others must clear the way or be run over. They may moi start out with the intention of killing some one. but they apparently make nc Peffort to avoid 1t and when the deed is done they run away from the conse- quences. If the damage they do is moi intentional it Is done through criminal carelessness That is obvious. I