Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04
HYDE TAKES THE STAND
On Trial for Injuring Man With
His Automobile.
HE DENIES THAT HE FLED
Two Witnesses Support His State
ment of the Affair.
HEARING OF CASE POSTPONED
Three Persons Who Testified at the
First Trial Will Be Sought Be-
fore Prosecution is Resumed.

Special Cablegram TO The Star.
PARIS. July 3.-James Hazen Hyde Of
New York, formerly vice president of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society, who
was condemned May l, by default, to
serve a month in prison and to pay a fine
of 800 for injuring man with his auto
mobile in October, 1908, and then ordering
his chauffeur to speed away after the ac-
cident. appeared today In the eleventh
chamber of the correctional court, where
the case was retired. When the judgment
was entered Mr. Hyde was on an automo-
bile trip In the Riviera On his return to
Paris he entered opposition to the judg
ment and a retrial was granted.
Mr.. Hyde was accompanied in court by
his chauffeur. who was also sentenced,
with Mr.. Hyde, to serve month in Jail
and to pay fine of $50.
The case was called after a dozen
Apache thieves and similar cases had
been disposed of. Mr.. Hyoe and his chauI-
teur occupying seats on special bench.
Charge of the Complainant.
The complainant. NJ. Magagne, repeated
his version of the accident, telling how
Mr.. Hyde had instructed his chauffeur to
speed away. NJ. Magagne was a passen-
ger in an auto-taxi at the time of the ac-
cident. The complainant testified that the
chauffeur of the auto-taxi took the num-
Der of Mr.. Hyde's automobile. Two wit
nesses, Lacrosse and Boucher, he added,
were present and heard Mr.. Hyde say to
his chauffeur, "F'ilez, flez.''
Mr.. Hyde's lawyer here pointed out that
these two witnesses. who gave evidence at
the first trial, had failed TO present them
selves today, while the auto-taxi driver
had disappeared without replying to the
magistrates summons.
Nine. Hochon. a middle-aged woman,
who was in Hyde's automobile at the
time of the accident, testified that she
had been with Hyde to dress rehearsal
at the Gymnase Theater. After the COL
lision with the auto-taxi, Nine. Hochon
testified, Mr.. Hyde. a manservanl and
the chauffeur descended and examined
the injuries done Il stayed in the auto
mobile" continued the witness. Mr..
Hyde remained away fully five minutes
before he returned. When he did return
he said: It's nothing. Two minutes later
we arrived at my house.
Mr. Hyde's manser> ant then took the
stand and corroborated Nine. Hochon's
testimony. He added also that he did
not see any one In the auto-taxi. the
chauffeur of which did nothing but in
suit Mr.. Hyde.
Story Told by Hyde.
Mr. Hyde was the next witness. His
testimony was similar to that of the
preceding witness. He added that he
had time to take the auto-taxIs number
and wrote next day to tn, company in
which his own automobile was insured
to pay the damages occasioned by the
collision to the auto-taxi Mr.. Hyde
denied that he said ilez, filez," to his
chauffeur.
The procureur's representative here
remarked that it would be very interest
ing if the auto-taxi chauffeur and the
two witnesses, Lacrosse and Boucher.
who mainta ned they heard Hyde say
"tilez. filez," could be found.
The defense maintains that the last
named two witnesses arrived on the
scene only after Mr. Hyde had re-en-
tered his automobile. At this Juncture
the case was postponed. the tribunal ac-
ceptins the procureur's representative S
SUGGESTION to ind the missing trio
The police were ordered to make
thorough search FOR the witnesses. and
when they are found and the
tribunal is again constituted as II was
today the ease will be resumed.
II was the consensus OF op'hlon II the
police court to-day that the case may
never he called.