New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-08
"OJIUk, HARBY p

a heartIesS and vicious cry at night told more
clearly than many other words could tell one
great reason for the growing popular demand
for more strict restraint Of locomotives upon
common roads and for more severe punishment
for those who with such engines break the rules
of the highway prescribed for the safety or
the general public. 4 big passenger locomotive
running in & reckless fashion at high speed
giving no signal of its approach knocked down
and killed a pedestrian who was crossing the
street. For moment the engineer slackened
the speed Of the machine. Then one of his
women companions yelled at him, Quick
Harry, Quick and Obedient TO her command
he put on full speed and went rushing away in
lawbreakinG fashion. leaving his dead victim to
the tender mercies of the public highway.
1t does not matter whether the occupants OF
the automobile were fashionable and wealthy
persons or creat lures from the Tenderloin-whO
greatly affect that style Of travel The in
cident was a revolving one, and one Of a kind
TO arouse strong resentment. The occupants of
the automobile knew that they had been break
ing the law in running in such fashion before
they struck their victim. They knew that
consequence of that lawhTeaking they had
committed the still more serious offence-prOb-
ably-of manslaughter In order. if possible, to
escape the just penalties of their wantOn law
breaking they committed an act Of mOnstrous
inhumanity, and then proceeded to continue
breaking the law in the same manner, but in
even greater degree than at first. To avoid
punishment for going too fast they went still
faster. To avoid accountability for knocking
down and killing one man they threatened to
knock down and kill many others. Their con
duct differed not in kind but only little in de-
gree from that Of the thief who, surprised in his
stealing, takes to his heels and shoots wildly
at his pursuers
We repeat what we have said hundred times
before, that the majority of automobile users
would not be guilty of such conduct but, on the
contrary, doubtless condemn it as earnestly and
as severely as any else does. But we would
again point out TO the law-abiding majority
and especially to those who have the official di
recuon or automobile clubs and who are SIM
| posed TO represent the feeling Of automobile
users III general, that the only way to make
their disapproval Of such brutaities effective fs
10 support enactments and an administration of
laws that viii be terror and restraint 70 evil
| doors. 1t is trifing with common sansA and
justice 10 ask, as automobiles have been doino
IN NeW-Jersey, that men shall not be punishable
lor oFerSpeeding unless they are doing SO IN
race or on wager. The locomotjva +bo+
AHled mat man at Windsor Terrace on q ra
cent night was not racing with another engine
ana lhere IS no reason to suppose it was being
speeded on a wager The only WAY IN s+o,, s,,o}
ouTases Is to subject the doors Of them f. the
memorable penalties Of the criminal law II 60
d common principle of law that if in +bo co,,
mission Of one laWbreaking act man o1.o l..
cloentally commits another and mora sorio,,,
oiiehce ne IS to be held responsible for +ha lat
yer Inc strict application Of that nrincinIe 70
ue'II wagon scOrchers" might have y dacidod1,,
salutary effect