The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-12
CRANE HAD AUTO TALK READY
BUT FOUND 1T DIDN'T EXACTLY
FIT THE CASE.

Scolded Physician Who Didn't Keep His
Machine or the Grass and Fined Him
SIO-What Do You mini He sa"
Once?-An Auto on q Sidewalk No Less
Ma g~istrate Crane had another automo-
bilist before him in the Morrisanta police
court yesterday morning and almost gave
him the standard lecture for speed limit
exceeders before no found out that it was
not that kind of a case. The prisoner,
DIR. Frederick G. Kneer of 236 West Fifty
first street, was held for driving his ma
chine across the lawn in front Of he Hunter
Island Inn, Pelham Bay Park.
When DR.. Kneer was arraigned the Mag
istrate nearly leaped from his chair when
he heard the word automobile.
You're another one OF these men that
takes the law into his own hands and dis
re gards the lives of others running about
amuok--"
Your Honor interrupted Mounted Po-
iceman Goldhammer, who made the arrest,
this is not a case of violation Of the speed
law"
What is it, them" snarled the AIagis-
trate.
This man Ia charged with violating a
city ordinance by running his automobile
across the lawn in front Of the Hunter
Island Inn. in Pelham Bay Park, . ans wered
~Goldhammer.
Don't you know, officer, that you can't
make a charge like that2 That is not an
offence that ia inthe book. Make the charge
disorderly conduct, y said Magistrate Crane
That was lone and the trial proceeded
What nave you to say for yoursehY'
said the Magistrate to DR.. Kneer.
"Your Honor, the roadway was blocked
and hat was the only way to get away
except by running over gravel that would
cut nv tires. Besides, lots OF others have
nun over that lawn. There were twenty
autom ohiles on it at the time ! was arrested
and the lawn was full Of tracks
you had no right TO cut across the lawn
said the Magistrate. The trouble with
70 a~utomobilists is that YOU don't care
W hat YOU do. You have money and you
think you're above the law. Why, last
winter l looked out OF my window and |
saw-what do you think? An automobile on
the sidewalk. Tho man who owned that
automobile thought he owned the earth
N~inetv-nine per cent, Of automobtlists
violate the law
That's right, your Honor said pr.
Kneer, but ! don't. | am not wealthy
either. | am merelya practising physician.
| have lost a lot Of money. too. because OF
being arraigned so late"
You are a professional man said the
Judge, and you ought TO be more careful
Of yourself for that reason. You are no
better than any one else. But you are no
higher than the aw. g.,
the doctor.
I'm not down on people that own autos
re ioined Magistrate Crane, but | am going
to punish offenders. Auto driving Is a
fine sport. but those who indulge in it should
not violate the law. Those who do ought
to be locked up. They do not care about
mere fines. They laugh at them as at the
folks that they nearly run over
Well" i%uterposed the doctor, trying to
bring the affair back to the point. there
weren't any Keep on the Grass signs on
the lawn"
There is none in this court room either
said the Magistrate. but you wouldn't
run a machine in here, would your
well / hope you'll be %lenient, your
Honor said the doctor. Make this a
NO, | won't snapped the Judge. Il
Your Honor" broke in Goldhammer,
when | arrested this man there were three
women in the automobile with nm and
they abused me awfully. Mrs. Kneer said
she hoped I'd be thrown from my horse
and badly hurt and that her husband might
ma We the pleasure Of tending to me on the
operating table"
II never did, your Honor said Mrs.
Kneer, rising in her seat in the court room.
You sit down and keep still Mrs kneer,"
said the Ma gistrate. We don't want to
hear from you at all"
DR.. Kneer paid the fine and was released
Before leaving the court room he said;
This late arraignment is a. outrage. l
was arrested Friday afternoon at 8 O'Clock
and taken six miles to the City Island police
station. There they took my pedigree and
told me to be in the West Chester police
court at o o'clock next morning. My
wife gave a house she owns as security for
my bail. / was in court from 9:10 o'clock
until II. At IL Magistrate Crane, who
was in the Morrisania court, telephoned
to bring all prisoners down there. We
had to ride down there and when we got
there his royal highness had skipped, We
had to go back to West Chester and my
wife swore 10 another bail bond. l caTne
up here only to get this lecture from Crane,
/ think he's crazy on the subject Of auto