Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-06-29
FROM CHILL TO FEVER
Seventeen Automobiles Endured
Various Temperatures

OHcerS heId stop watches on ' mem over
Elghth-Mie Course and 5ailffs Pros
eeuted Them for Violating Speed Law.
From chill to fever is the range in bod
fly temperature which the Brattleboro au-
tomobilists have experienced the past
week. The chill came Friday night when
they learned that, unbeknown to the
drivers the speed of II machines over
an eighthmile course on Main street had
been taken during the afternoon by Of
ficers of the law armed with stop watches
and In the employ Of the village bailiffs.
The fever developed when the speedy au-
toists began to realize that the general
public demanded that the punishment
which the law specifically provides be
| melted out, that the bailffs really intend
| ed to prosecute them and that to be fined
! once would bring them face to face with
| the liability of being put in Jail for 10
| days II ever they should be taken for a
second offense Then began a strenuous
| effort on the part OF some to prevent being
| prosecuted, except in some way which in
| the end would result i'm escaping n fine
and how they came out is told farther on.
| The public also has taken an interest akin
| to feverishness, in the matter, and the
| automobile incident has been the over
shadowlng topic of interest this week.
The names OF the drivers of the II au-
| tomobiles mentioned are: Crosby Adams.
Fred c. Adams Charles A. Boyden, ia
son Bushnell, Arthur B. Clapp, Charles
r. Crosby. S. NJ Denison Charles w.
| Durham, Harry l.. Emerson ]. Gray Es-
tey, Charles A. Harris, William f. Has
| kell. DIR. Edward r. Lynch. Howard Mer-
| rill. Arthur Miller, John r. Ryder and
Charles d. Whitaker. AS hereafter men
toned, Bailiff Henry r. Brown was COM
planned Of by Mr.. Harris, making is
| drivers on the defensive.
| 10 raclxiaac IN Of n
few owners Of automobiles in Brattleboro
was the cause which led the bailiffs to
take action. Some time ago they posted
notices stating that the law positively
would be enforced. The fact was pub
lished in the local newspapers and after
wards wooden signs were placed in diff
ferent parts OF the village calling atten-
ton to the speed limit. so that ample
warning was given. The warning had no
perceptible effect and the bailiffs decided
to have a course on Main street measured
of for the purpose of getting at some
thing definite as to violations Of the law.
They entrusted this work to Policeman
William Warren and Deputy Sheriff
Chauncey l. Knapp.
Not far from two weeks ago the two
officers procured n 75-foot tape measure
and. under cover Of darkness. measured
off distance Of $50 feet. beginning at
the post near Randall & Clapp's jewelry
store and going northward to n point
about opposite the Unitarian church.
Under the 10-mile-an hour clause in the
law this course should not be covered in
| less than 45 seconds. On Thursday after
noon OF last week the officers went fish
ing" They caught one or two. Mr..
Warren went TO the north end OF the
course and Mr.. Knapp to the south end.
Both kept tab on the automobiles pass
ing over the course, signalling to each
| other by waving a newspaper when
ever an automobile entered or left the
course. On Friday afternoon the fishing
was better. ]. G. Ullery went over the
course. but at that time it had become
known that the officers were on the look
out and after Mr.. Ullery had passed the
first officer he was warned so that his
: time did not exceed the law. How l.. ID.
Taylor escaped is told in this story.
On Saturday afternoon the balliffs held
n special meeting and voted to prosecute
/ the drivers OF the cars. leaving the details
to Village Attorney A. F. Schwenk. Then
began a movement TO prevent prosecution
as already stated, and on Monday after
noon the bailiffs were given n ride by
some Of those deeply interested in the
matter and the workings OF touring cars
! were explained to them in way cal
culated to show that II was impracticablt
to drive a touring car at less than Il
I miles an hour. The bailiffs did not re-
r cede from their original position.
I In view Of the way the statute has beer
n | mlsquoted on the street the vital part Of
section s. Act No Sc. Acts Of 1904. I.
given herewith. II provides that no au'
. tomobile motor vehicle shall be rur
> on any public or private way laid GU
: under authority of statute within q
city, Incorporated village or the thickly
70 settled or business part Of town or fir,
n district, at a speed exceeding ten miles
n an hour Upon approaching a crossing o
e intersecting ways, also in traversing
d crossing or intersection, and in goinl
n around corner, or a curve in n highway
every person operating an automobile o.
:, ! motor vehicle shall run it at a rate o
~ speed less than thar hereinbefore specific;
q and at no time greater than is reasonable
n and proper, having regard to traffic an,
o the use Of the way and the safety Of tn
. public, and in no event exceeding ST,
miles an hour" Section 9 provides tina
u ANY person convicted of violating an,
Il provision of this act shall be punished b,
r a fine of not more than fifty dollars 70
i a first offense. and of not more than on
n hundred dollars, or Imprisonment for
term OF ten days for each subsequen
n offense."