The Detroit times., 1909-05-26
AUTO SC0RCHER
RANTS IN JAIL
Says He's Sacrifice to Public Clamor
for Punishment of Speeders-
Connolly's Clever Coup.

Over in ward of the county jail,
the EMF company, who was sent
to Jail by Judge Connolly Monday
morning. declares that he is the limo
cent sacrifice 10 the public clamor for
punishment OF auto speeders, and
that he is made the scapegoat Tor the
rich and powerful scorchers who are
allowed To go.
In large part. Martins frame OF
mind may be attributed 10 one Henry
Erdman, a studious, middle-aged gen.
tleman who Is locked in ward G on
the charge OF abandoning his family.
Mr.. Erdman is outspoken in his SYM
pathy fol- Martin. He speaks OF Mar
tins martyrdom, and Martin says.
That's right Yep. that's so. You
bet, A poor fellow hasn't got any
show. There was another fellow in
court with me. He had pull. He
was let go. | had TO come over here
10 jail. And | wasn't speeding. either.
The same cop made the complaint
against both Of US. His speedometer
showed the same speed for both OF
us. The other fellow. with a pun, was
let go. and ! came to Jail"
Yes, young man." interjected Grd'
man, ceasing his perusal OF a small
book that looked to unframed eyes
like u New Testament. Yes, young
man, that's always the game. The big
fellows get away. and the poor fellow,
without pull. gets into Jail. Get the
big fellows. say |. and put them In
Jail"
But. all question of the ethics OF
the case to one side. Martin appears
TO be due for a stay in the county jail,
though under peculiar circumstances,
which amount, practically. to Judge
Connollys stealing march on the
city ordinances.
Satisfied that jail sentences were
the only proper remedy for auto speed
ers, Judge Connolly learned that the
law made no provision for q Jail sen.
tence. 1t merely mentions maximum
fine of $780,
But | have the power to remand q
defendant to Jail until decide upon
the proper fine" said Judge Connol-
ly, with smile That's what I'm do
ing with young Martin. and what's I'm
going to do with some more auto
scorchers I'm leaving him In jail un-
til decided whether TO fine him 800.
In the meantime. he's in Jail. It's a
very important question, and l may
have to leave him there for some
time. while | decide what fine to i'm
pose"
w. A. Pungs, charged by Motorcy-
Gle Officer Bert Dwyer, with driving
his auto at the rate of 25 miles an
hour, appeared before Justice Stein
at noon, Tuesday, and pleaded not
guilty. His case was set for June 4,
and he was released on his personal
recognizance. Dryer says that MIR.
Pungs was driving at more than 20
miles an hour, and that when be over
hauled the speeder. Mr.. Pungs denied
going rs miles. but admitted that he
had been hitting 1t up al 17-mile clip,
which is violation OF the law.
Would License Drivers.
That all persons driving automobiles
in Detroit be compelled TO take out
q license. after passing an examfna-
ton to determine their fitness, is the
proposal OF Aid. Robert w. Rutter. OF
the Fifteenth ward. He will ask Cor
poration Counsel Hally to draw up an
ordinance along these lines.
Rutters ward includes the eastern
end OF the Grand boulevard. and also
a portion OF Jeffersonave., where
speeding Is common and where q mum.
Der OF accidents have occurred.
I'VE must do something to protect
the public from reckless drivers" says
Rutter 1T seems to me that acct.
dents Ia which automobiles have
part are increasing daily. Hardly
dav masses but some occurrence f
this kind Is chropicled.
While many OF these occurrences
are purely accidental and sometimes
unavoi BILE, | think there Is no doubt
but that many more are due to recc.
less or incompetent handling OF auto
mobiles II would be good idea TO
nave a licensing ordinance, and | shall
take the matter up at once.
Such a measure would assure us
first that the people driving cars know
how to handle them, and, secondly, by
making the license revocable In case
OF carelessnesJ or reckless driving.
would deter the 'scorchers' from ex.
ercising their mania for speed. Judge
Connoils,s action t"1Aspding a. man To
Jail without the optiUFW fine Is
good inning, but there should be
something more general than that.
Il myself had a narrow escape from
death on Jeffersonave. recently. In
crossing the avenue | had to so
around a vehicle which was moving
slowly. Aloi.g came an automobile
at a speed that must have been close
to 40 miles an hour. and just whisked
by within few inches OF me. | had
to step in front Of the other vehicle
10 escape it, and the man who was
driving the wagon also had to pull his
horse up to avoid being run down.
"At another time recently. my wire
and | were almost run down at mid
night by a machine containing two
Young men and two girls. They had
opened up the throttle and were rum
ming at the very highest speed without
regard TO pedestrians. In both cases
where escaped being run over SO
narrowly | was using caution. III an
active man is in danger, what chance
has a child OF an old person to get out
of the way"
Much OF the reckless driving Is
due to the kind of insurance now car
lied by automobilists,' says city Of
fetal. THE insurance companies not
only insuue against ordinary accident,
Int against damages from collisions.
t-xon- ~ N caag rpCpntly where q