Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25
AUTOMOBILES
MAKE PROTEST
DECLARE POLICE HAVE BEEN
UNJUST
Instance Quoted Where Speed Meter
Of Motor Cycle Men Registered
Five Miles an Hour While
Not In Action

Inc WHOLESALE arrests OF local auto
mobilists for alleged violation of the
speed law and the many convictions
on the word of the arresting officer
which have followed is causing a wave
Of indignation to sweep the motor car
world of Southern California.
The question is rapidly approaching
a crisis because OF the helpless position
in which automobile owners and drivers
find themselves when caught in the
meShes of the mounted police.
Visiting enthusiasts have become dis
guSted with the present aspect of af-
fairs and many of them are preparing
to seek other climes than those of Los
Angeles, where to drive at less than
moderate speed doesn't mean arrest
and incarceration If the payment of a
fine is not forthcoming.
The actions of officers Moionier and
Berchtold when making the arrests
have In many instances been severely
criticised. Many of those who have
suffered arrest complain that they were
not accorded the slightest courtesy by
the bicycle men.
Radical Measures to Be Taken
There is probability that drastic
measures will be taken in the near
future, for the fear which now attends
an auto spin is detracting from the
local business. Many intending pur-
chasers have deferred securing a ma
chine until some action has been taken
and test case appears probable at ~
distant date.
What adds to the bitterness in regard
to the arrests is the oft repeated asser-
tion that the speedometers on the emotor-
cycle of Mojoner and Berchtold have
been proved unreliable and often regis
tered five miles an hour when the
machine was resting against the curb
of downtown sidewalks.
That many Of the recent arrests were
unjust in the extreme is evident from
the fact that the speedometers of the
officers after chasing the autos for sew
eral blocks or more registered perhaps
a point or SO above the speed limit.
The machine was taken into custody
because the timer of the police regis
tered something above the speed limit.
The fact that their speedometers would
of a necessity register more than the
auto timers has been totally overlooked
by Mojonier and Berchtold.
Several days ago the officers in ques-
ton left their machine at the curb
stone near the Mason building, and for
their own edifcation a party of observ-
ing autoists, among whom was Paul
Koercelin and w. r. Cooper Of the REQ
agency, investigated the condition of
the speedometer which after remaining
at least twenty minutes by the curb
registered five miles an hour.
1t is not difficult to see the reason for
many of the arrests which have been
made when such condition of affairs
exists, and hence a determination on
the part of Los Angeles owners to over
come an obstacle which is proving a
serious detriment to the automobile
situation is manifestly in it's favor.
Tourists Are Leaving
Hundreds Of tourists who carry their
own machines have I'm the past few
years made California the mecca of
their travels, but the experiences which
they are meeting with is calculated to
drive them to some place which affords
protection from the interference of un-
reasonable guardians of the law
Two cases which loomed up as par
ticularly fragrant during the past few
weeks were the arrests and subsequent
fines imposed upon Fuller of the Win
ton agency and Frank A. Mcdonald.
Mr.. Fuller, In speaking of his deten-
ton and fine, said
"I was driving along Pasadena ave-
nue. and Avenue Fifty-two last Tuesday
morning and was travelling at the most
not more than fourteen miles an hour
when Mojonier and Berchtold ordered
me to stop, saying that was under ar
rest for exceeding the speed limit. am
positive that / was not violating any
speed law and tried to convince the
officers, who refused to listen.
''I paid my fine as many others have
done for absolutely no legitimate rea-
son.
During the past few days I have
sold three Wintons to eastern parties,
who rather than be held up, arrested,
fined and treated in general like a
criminal have left the city for some of
the northern towns, where they may
use their cars without a fear of the
publicity, inconvenience and expense
which has attended many drivers in
Los Angeles"
Mr.. Mcdonald told of his experience
with Mojonier and Berchtold several
weeks ago, when with party of ladies
and gentlemen he was driving along
washington street having started from
Vermont avenue:
Arrested at Ten Miles an Hour
at own four-cylinder Tourist and
as we were rolling along Washington
SlISeJ a DlS WHlIe SlGdlleI pdSSeu US.
was not driving more than ten miles
an hour and was amazed when after
proceeding about eight blocks two men
on motor cycle waved us to stop.
did not at first realize the situation and
for moment thought it was geunine
hold-up. as the men appeared to be
tramps. Mojonier did the talking and
said: Stop that machine l drew up
and asked an explanation. You are
under arrest for exceeding the speed
limit he replied. Mojonier acted in a
surly manner and it was anything but
a pleasant situation. with the ladies in
the car.
"I asked Mojonier for badge of
authority, and this he refused to show,
saying that 1t was unnecessary. / did
! not dispute their word, but offered
them the machine as a present if they
could drive it at more than ten miles
an hour. The batteries were weak at
the time and knew their capabilities,
"This the officers refused to do and
| declared that we had been travelling
twenty-one miles an hour They took
our names and next day paid my fine,
1 refused absolutely to plead guilty to
fast driving, but it was no use and the
fine Stood"
Such cases as those narrated are but
a drop in the bucket, and the injustice
which has been meted out by Mojonier
and Berchtold is readily apparent
When the word of representatiVe citi-