Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-26
ALONG CONDUIT ROAD
ALLEGED SPEEDING OF AUTO
OWNED BY MIR. SHoNTs.
Steps Taken to Secure Arrest Of Chauf-
feur-Notice to Local Club
Members.

Washington are said to be manifesting in
| terest in the case of alleged speeding by
the chauffeur in charge of an automobile
| of Theodore P. Shonts, while on the Con-
duit road, last Saturday. Chauffeur Bell,
| for whose arrest Mayor Garrett of Glen
Echo says he issued a warrant, has not
yet been arrested. Charles P. Collins town
marshal of Glen Echo, was in this city
| yesterday making inquiries as to the iden-
tity Of the chauffeur, but the police say
| he has not called upon them for assistance.
Should an arrest be made, however. it
I would have to be done by the local police
department. Chauffeur Bell is not a MEM
Der Of the local club. and it is. therefore.
said to be impossible for the club to pro-
duce him before the mayor of Glen Echo
for trial. 1t is believed that the alleged
violatOr of the speed regulations of the
Maryland town will not go there for trial
unless legally compelled to do so. The
family of Mr.. Shonts, it is stated, will de-
part in the near future. and reside in New
York, and the chauffeur, it is believed, will
go with them.
| Mayor Garrett and the town marshal are
considering the question of procuring re-
QUESTION for the chauffeur in the event Of
his failure to appear for trial. but 1t is the
belief of the local police that charge
much more serious than that Of violating
the speed law will have to be preferred in
order to induce the court to surrender him.
Members of the local club have been re-
quested by Mr.. Robert T. Caverly. pres-
dent of the organization, to attend a meet
ing Thursday next at O'Clock.
Club to Take Action.
In the notices sent out President Caverly
refers to the published reports in reference
to the Conduit road affair of last Saturday
| and says:
IF the report is correct it behooves this
club to take immediate action and commu-
~. nit, ohn
pledging them our support and cooperation
to the fullest extent in maintaining their
laws
President Caverly adds: You are IA
miliar no doubt with the litigation last year
between the Automobiles Protective Asso-
citation and the Glen Echo authorities,
which resulted unfavoraby to the automo-
bilsts, but recently a friendly understand
ing was reached between the town authori-
ties and this club whereby the speed limit
of six miles per hour will be raised to
twelve miles per hour on April /, and fur
| Their privileges will be granted automobil-
lists provided they observe the law, which
privileges will be communicated to you
later.
The experience of automobile CLUBS IN
other cities has clearly shown that running
contrary to local ordinances only Increases
drastic legislation and prevents laval iding
| motorists fully enjoying the sport, while on
the other hand cooperation with the local
authorities has always resulted In more
lenient legislation
In conclusion President Caverly advises
members of the club that the object of the
meeting Thursday is to discuss the ques-
ton generally and to pass resolutions In
regard to existing laws. He says it is hoped
that member of the club Will interfere
with the putting into effect of the new
regulations in the town of Glen Echo next
Monday
Complying With the Laws.
Members of the local cub are said to be
in favor of complying with the laws re-
speeding the speed of automobiles. The club
now has about ninety members and they
realize that they are more likely to accom-
plish something by assisting the officers
who are intrusted with the enforcement of
the law than by contestng the law. Many
of the members heartily in favor of
having the law-abiding automobiles COM
missoned as special o1scers for the purpose
of assisting in the enforcement of the pro-
visions of the law In the District of Column
bia and the neighboring states. In New
York such plan has been adopted, and
the automobilsts say 1t works well. Men
who hold such commissions, it is stated
are persons of standing in the community.
1t is their duty when they witness a viola
ton Of the law to assist the police in
bringing the offender to justice to give
him a friendly word of warning.
One such automobilst, Dave Hennen
Norris, ex-president of the Automobile
Club of America, found himself under ar
rest in New York last Sunday when he
made effort to perform his duty as
special policeman. Comm; ssoner Bingham
had appointed him a special only a
short time ago. and Sunday, when he speed
ed his machine to overtake a violator of the
law. he was arrested. Assistant District At
torney PinchOt, friend of Mr.. Morris and
member of the club conducted the prosecu-
ton. which resulted In an acquittal
What Mayor Garrett Says.
John A. Garrett. mayor of Glen Echo,
spe"t today in Rockville. When questioned
concerning the Shonts automobile episode
at Glen Echo last Saturday evening he said
there were no new developments He stat
ed that he will this afternoon learn the full
name of Bell, the chauffeur, and that a war
rant will be issued before tonight for his
arrest. Mayor Garrett added that Town
Marshal Collins says that in attempting to
hold the automobile Saturday evening ne did
not stand in the middle of the road as has
been represented but that he stood to one
side and threw out his hand as a signal to
stop. Instead of stopping, however, Collins
AYERS, the chauffeur steered is machine d.
rectly at him and attempted to run him
down. Mayor Garrett reiterated his inten-
ton to see that the automobile law IS re-
spected, and stated that one would be
spared no matter how prominent his official
or social position.