The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-24
GAIT IS CHARGED
AUTOISTS SAY THEY ARE
BEING PROSECUTED.
One Motorist Says He Was Fined by
Country oncial, Though Sped Laws
Were Carefully obeyed.

The New Jersey Automobile and Motoi
Club has received many protests from
members. who assert that they have beer
unjustly held up In all parts OF the Stale
Just at this time complaint cOmes mainly
from Metuchen and New Brunswick, on
the shore route. Last week Horace A.
Bonnell. secretary of the organization, re-
ceived the following letter. which will be
referred to the board Of trustees at their
next meeting:
Mr.. Fl. A. Bonnen, Secretary New Jersey
Automobile and Motor Club. Newark
N. J.
Dear Sir-On Saturday. the nth, | left
New Brunswick about 4.30. I was driving
a 35-horsepower Lozier car, going south.
Before leaving 1 was cautioned that be
tween New Brunswick and the railroad
tracks south of that town they had men
stationed to hold up and arrest drivers of
automobiles. Shortly before teaching the
place where these men were stationed, |
was cautioned by automobiles going in
the opposite direction, that there was
trouble ahead. With these two cautions,
of course / Instructed my driver TO drive
carefully. and at no tine did he exceed
the speed limit OF twenty miles per hour.
Naturally. I was very muRh surprised TO
be tagged and arrested and taken before a
Judge In a country house on the right
hand side Of the road. where ] was IN
formed that ] had exceeded the speed
limit. and had been running twenty-six
miles per hour. I informed the judge that
] was willing TO make an affidavit that
we had at no time exceeded twenty niles
per hour. according to my Warner speedo-
meter. My driver was also willing to
testify to this fact. He (the judge IN
formed me that the men with time
Watches" which were laid on his table,
made the charge that | had been travelling
twenty-six miles per hour, and, If ! was
not satisfied, he would take a bond of $lOO
and 1 could come to New Brunswick on
the following Monday and have 1t tried
As you know. these delays are expensive,
especially to o business man, so | asked
him what the penalty would be, and he
said 1t would depend altogether whether
my driver would plead guilty or not. &c.
to save time and trouble, I Instructed my
man TO plead guilty. which he Immediately
did, and | was fined 81 and costs C'graftD,
$3.95; and other members of our club say
1t is "A deliberate holdup. AS our president
expressed 1t in his letter a short time ago,
it Is a matter of persecution, and not OF
prosecution. and l write this letter to ask
you to please bring this before the board
of governors and take some action whereby
the members can be protected against
graft" of this kind. These men are not
there to protect the condition of the roads
or to enforce the laws. II is a matter or
and simple graft. l am willing to
give some time and my share OF the ex-
pense 20 have someone arrested to test the
legality of these unreasonable arrests. VI
course. you understand the matter of %.95
does not enter into this at all. 1t is a
question of annoyances. | am not a
scorcher. and I try 10 keep within the laws
of all the different places through which
l pass. Trusting thar the club will AXE
some official action in relation to this, as
we'll as the other outrages to which we
to submit. I remain. Sincerely yours,
LEONARD PAULSON.
R~idgewood. n. j., August 20. 1907.