The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-15
LACROIX ADJUDGED NOT
 GUILTY IN CITY COURT


 Which Caused Death of A.
 w. Wallace in Fairfield
 His Wife With Him
 Supt. Birmingham Talks.
 Paul Lacroix, the driver of the Rem ault car which ran over United States flag in front of police headquar- ters last Thursday morning was ar raigned in the city court before Judge Carl Foster this morning and was found not guilty of violating the stat ute to protect the U. s. flag. MT. La croix was accompanied by Mrs. La croix, and by Henry D. Miller presi- dent and secretary of the Bridgeport Vehicle company. Mrs. LacroiN is a charming and gracious little woman. MT. Lacroix conducted his own case evidently feeling sure of acquittalThe officers told their story of the affair which practically agreed with that which appeared in the Farmer of Thursday last. The defendant in his testimony assured the court that he knew nothing of the accident in Fair field which indirectly caused the death of A. W. Wallace nor of the alleged dissertation of the American flag in this city until he reached New Haven. He saw the strip of bunting stretched across the street but thought it was a. part of a demonstration which Mir. Miller had promised him in this city. The hearing occupied only a few min uteS.
 Judge Foster, in his comments brought out the point that the accused had expected to meet with a demon Stration here but not of the sort which he really en countered in front of the police station. No police officer had appeared in uniform and the officers who attempted to stop Lacroix were in plain clothes. The judge held that the strip of red, which was the only part of the flag visible to the driver of the machine. could not be characteriz- ed as the flag What was visible was only a. piece of red bunting which might easily have been mistaken for a part of a demonstration of welcome to driver of the Renault machine who expecting some such reception on ac- count of the promises made by his friend Mfr. Miller. Judge Foster found MT. Lacroix not guilty.
 The court took intermission after the trial of MT. Lacroix which gave him, with his pretty wife, an oppor- which they did with the ferver charac- teristic of the French people. MT. and Mrs. Lacroix then called upon Supt- at his office. Mrs. La croix thanked the Superintendent for his consideration in the matter. She said she and her husband regretted very much the unfortunate circum- stances connected with the flag incl dent. She asked the superintendent for permission to present the depart n1ent with a new flag to take the place of the one mutilated on Thursday. The superintendent accepted the ten der with thanks. President Hill of the police board was present. at the hear ing and also in the Superintendent's office when the tender was made and acquiesced in the proposition.
 MT. LacroiX will order flag made of the same size as the one torn up last Thursday and will send it to Su- Birmingham. The par ty left police headquarters soon after, incident Superintendent Birmingham said: "I think it is probable that MT LacroiX was right in his statement that he did not understand that he ovation in the city and evidently thought that the red bunting stretch ed acrossSthe street was compliment tary. There was considerable noise and it is possible that he did not under stand the commands of the officers as none was in uniform intended to use the red in the flag as a danger signal At that time we had just been notified that a man had been killed by an automobile in Fairfield and were asked to hold up all the cars going through the city. We had very little time to act. took the nag ana inst tructed one Of the men to nOlu IL over his arm as a danger signal, show ing only a red patch about IS inches Through a misunderstanding the flag was stretched across the street with only the red stripe showing The driver evidently misunderstood the bunting-''
 MT LacroiX said: ''I did not know a man had been killed in Fairfield or that we had run over the American flag in Bridgeport until I got to New Haven I am preparing to become an American citizen and an insult to the United States flag is the last thing I and the piece of bunting stretched across the street. I thought that of course this was part of a | friendly demonstration arranged by my friend Mr. Miller for he had promised to meet me when I passed through and give me a hearty wei l come am very sorry that it oc- cured as it did. I have not employ ed any counsel because I felt sure court would serve to clear me of any insult to the flag of this country of which I hope soon to be- come a citizen.'
 MT Iacroix is a man of intelligence and also of more than ordinary abil- ity He is about 90 years of age, short | of stature, well knot and very active. l He was not in the least excited in | court and framed his questions in a 1 just what points of the testimony l should be brought out to clear him of the charge.
 NOTED AGRICULTURIST DEAD. |
 Special from United PreSs.)