Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-06-04

soned "joy rider" she urges the chauf-
feur to strike his highest speed even IN
the city limits. Motor policemen give
chase TO the fleeing 10y riders" but nine
times out of ten they do not catch the
speeders. 1t is in such mad races that
men, women and children are run down
and killed. Not long ago, a party OF
"ioy riders" ran over and broke the left
leg of Mrs. Carolina Felesn, on Bedford
avenue, Brooklyn. Instead of stopping
to help the woman, the 10y riders
stood up in their machine and jeered at
the injured woman. 1t is such perform
ances as that which cause men to threat
en- to lynch chauffeurs who have care
lessly killed boys with their machines.
CURLING THE MOTORISTS.
There are some townships in the
country in which motor cars are not al
lowed to be driven at more than four
miles an hour. The New York state law
holds the motorist down to ten miles an
hour in the business or built up portions
of city or town; 10 miles an hour where
houses average less than 100 feet apart;
90 miles an hour in the country, and four
miles an hour on sharp curves, bridges,
and steep descents. The motorists make
no objection whatsoever to the town and
city speed regulations, but they think
they should be allowed to 20 at least 20
miles an hour on straight country roads,
where the chances of accidents are ex-
tremely few. The Marylan law, if en-
forced rigidly, would keep motorists from
touring that state. The maximum speed
permitted is ~ miles an hour, and a
machine may be driven legally not over
six miles an hour over sharp curves, in
tersections of prominent cross roads, and
in the built up portions of the cities and
towns. The Massachusetts, law is brief
1t permits ~ miles an hour in cities, and
90 miles an hour in the country. Curves
must be taken at not over eight miles an
hour. Thousands of machines tour Mas
sachusetts every summer, and few acct
dents are reported from the country dis
tricts. Vermont, which is popular with
simmer tourists, permits ten miles an
hour in cities and % miles an hour in the
country.
| PROTECTING CHILDREN.
The Virginia law, similar to the Mary
land law in its low speed limit, adds "a
clause making it illegal for motorst tc
drive over ten miles an hour "whert
there is gathering of persons or hor'
ses." This clause was made to protect
schoolchildren at recess, when they art
likely to run into the road. AS the aver
age school lets out directly upon the
street, the lives of children are constantly
! jeopardized by reckless drivers. who
make no pretense at regulating theil
speed when passing school houses. Many
of the boys who have been recently kill
ed in this city, have been playing in the
streets as they do at recess, when hit by
motor cars. There are several chauffeuri
, now in Jail for killing children by reck
less driving. The Missouri Supreme
} cocrt recently sentenced James Watson
chauffeur for II. Clay Pierce, the OF
magnate, to Jail for one year and to pay
fine of $1,000 for killing a child. A
short time ago, William Darragh. chauf'
, feur, killed Ingvard Trimble, in thil
city, with his machine. He fled to Tex
} as, but detectives found him, brought
} him back, and he is now indicted fol-
. murder in the first degree. This week tive
. young girls. while crossing Canal street