The Washington herald., 1907-03-30
STANDBY CHAUFFEUR
Misses Shonts Justify Speed
ing Away from Collins.
FIRST STATEMENT IS ISSUED
Glen Echo 0meIaI Is CensnFed for
Firing Revolver at Party-Driver
Fails 10 Appear for TrIaE-AutOistS
Prepare 10 Fight Against Reap
pointmeRt of the Town Marshal.

v. d. Bell the Shonts' chauffeur, failed
to appear for trial at Glen Echo yester-
day on the charge of having violated the
speed limit in passing that suburb last
Saturday night Later in the day, how
ever The Washington Herald was able
70 secure for the first time the story
Of the attempted arrest of the shonts
party from members Of the household.
The barrier of reserve that had guarded
the "other side" Of the story was broken
down last night. and Miss Margaret
Shonts related the details of the incident.
In her story she frankly admitted the
violations Of the speed laws. but eensuTed
the action Of Marshal Charles p. Collins,
of Glen Echo, who attempted the arrest,
and who, said Miss Shonts. fred his re-
vulver directly al the automobile. instead
of in the air as the officer claimed.
It was also brought out that earlier on
the evening OF the Glen Echo episode the
party had been stopped while running to-
ward Chevy Chase by a motorcycle po-
lice officer Of the Seventh precinct Oficer
Trenis, who reported that they were hit
ting a thirty-hve- -mile-an-hour gait when
halted. Miss Shonts said that this report
was an exaggeraton, but that they must
have been going at the rate Of eighteen
or twenty miles an hour.
1T was rather unjust" said Miss
Shonts. speaking of the Chevy Chase
arrest. which resulted in the chauffeur
appearing at the station last Tuesday
and depositing collateral which later
was forfeited. we were running about
is or 20 miles an hour. and after being
stopped by the police officer, we
naturally felt somewhat displeased, and
we did not want il TO occur again. We
went out the Conduit road and were
running along at about i miles an
hour. You know the speed limit at
Glen Echo is six miles, but any one at
all acquainted with the mechanism of
a large car. knows that it is impossible
10 keep such a machine going at 50
slow a rate of speed.
Raced from Collins.
''As we drew near Glen Echo we saw
man come riding toward us on q
bicycle and our chauffeur said it must
be this man Collins. the Glen Echo
policeman who is making so much
trouble. We told Bell not to let him
catch US. and then, OF course. we began
10 go very quickly. The officer fol
lowed us, but we outdistanced him and
he stopped. We thought he would
telephone ahead, thinking that W,
would continue on toward Great Falls
and we decided to outmaneuver him.
I'VE ran along TO the next turning
place and then started back. Pretty soon
we saw his bicycle resting against q
bridge down the road. Bell then increased
the speed and we We're going very quickly
when We reached the spot. As we drew
near, this man Collins came running on
into the road and held up one hand
reaching for his hip pocket at the same
time II IS absurd 10 say that We coul1
have run him down, as he stood on one
side Of the road and we We're running or
the other Bell never swerved 70 right
or left, but as We reached the officer h6
pulled out his revolver and shot directly
at us He probably meant to hit one Oi
our tires. but the flash came straigh
toward US, ana If we hadn't been gOing
so fast one OF US would probably hav,
been hit by the bullet.
Not Warranted in Shooting.
we feel that no police officer has th'
right to fire upon people under such cir
cumstances
Miss Shonts was told that Mayor Gar
rett, OF Glen Echo, had received wore
that the reason Bell did not appear ther'
for trial yesterday. was because he hat
been ordered not 10 do so by Mrs. shont
or her daughters. II was claimed thi,
order countermanded one supposed I,
have been given by Mr.. Shonts, who IL
said to have told Bell TO go out for th
trial
I don't care 10 say anything abou
that, said Miss Shonts, but 1 really
don't see why Bell should go. This mar
Collins is the one that should be OF
trial. We were guilty OF exceeding tn,
speed limit and We did IL purpOsely q
avoid the officer. but that is not suficien
grounds for that man taking a chanc
on killing oBe Of US"
Reports from the automobilists o.
Washington and from certain citizens o
Glen Echo indicate that there viii b,
strong opposition to the reappointment. az
town marshal of Charles P Collins
whose term expires the 1st of May. Al
though appointed by the mayor, the ap
pointnent must be confirmed by the tow
council, a state of affairs which lends al
added interest 10 the coming election o
two members OF that body
seek Collins Removal.
The opponents Of Collins. it Is under
stood. will endeavor 10 secure the election
Of councilmcn who Will not sanction tn
action of the mayor should he decide t
reappoint that official.
II have not as yet decided upon IN
course to be pursued in reference to tn
reappointment Of Collins" said Mayo
Garrett yesterday, IN many ways h
mas made an excellent officer, as IN tn
closing OF the speakeasies and the dis
persion of disorderly assemblages on tn
Conduit road
With regard 10 the complaints OF auto
mohilists Of his manner in making arrests
1t must be remembered that Il is impOssi
bic 10 secure a Chesterfield as town mar
shll c. deputy sheriff. 1 have recentl
talked with Collins in regard to this sub
ject, aad impressed upon him that h
must use discretion in the exercise of hi
official authority In this he has prom
ised to obey me, and think there Will b
less cause for complaint from this soure
in the future"