The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-27
MOTORISTS
 DISMISSED Evidence Speeding Not
 Conclusive. JUDGE BABER IS MEReFUL Gives Fourteen Drivers Benefit of
 Doubt. UaIes. oAcers Have Cyclenetefs, Lit- tie Can Be Dsne Ts Prevent vio- latien of the City's Auto-
 mobile Ordinances.

Recorder Baber dismissed every one of the fourteen cases of violation of the speed law. which were brought be- fore him yesterday evening. He said:
 "As the ofhcers have no instruments for recording speed. the cases are just the belief of the policemen against the belief of the motorists as regards the speed of the cars. and to my mind there Is reasonable doubt. The law in such a situation gives the prisoner the bene- fit of the doubt, and will dismiss the defendants.''
 The trials were the result of . cru sade lately inaugurated by the police against the motorists who have been 'scorchins" inside the city limits. Three bicycle policemen were detailed to arrest every car driver they saw who was. in their belief. going faster than ten miles an hour. the city speed limit e. Canty, D. Paul and D. Canty were the officers chosen, and they wero given a sort of rowing commission tn do what they could In their own dis erection.
 North Decatur Street where it merHes into the Lower Wetumpka Road at the city limits. and ensconced themselves behind e chicken coop some hundred yards inside the city limits to await the returning cars from the races Thursday evening.
 From their coign of vantage they would spot car coming into town and at the right moment would flag it down and take the driver Into custody. All classes of men fell under their surveil- lance, and fourteen automobiles were held up, names taken, and instructions given for the driver to appear in police court Friday evening.
 W. T. Robertson was the first called to explain in police court yesterday. The defendant said he did not think. in going faster than eight miles an hour. He said there were many bad holes in the road along the part where the ar- rest was made, and that he had a sick woman in the car with him. He said the bouncing over tho rough road would have been bad for the invalid and so he was proceeding cautiously.
 The officers contended that the car was going nearly fifteen miles an houv and that when 1t was signalled to stop 1t skidded in the effort to come to q standstill.
 Judge Baber established his prece- dent in this first case of testimony yer sus testimony. and let .he defendan mt go.
 J. M Keller. the next defendant. plead guilty like little man, admit ting a possible speed of twenty miles an hour. He explained the "scorch" by saying he was trying to make con- nection with a railroad train, and Judge Baber was so pleased, if . lit- tie taken aback by the frank admis- sion. that he dismissed the case point blank.
 G. L. Harris was next up. and the po- lice swore with fervor that he had been coming at fine speed. but Mir. Harris said, although he might have been going a bit fast outside the city, still he slowed down when he saw Mir. Kellar's car stopped, just ahead of him. and being borne out in his tes- timony by other occupants of the car his case was dismissed.
 The next two defendants were ne- Rroes. Frank Johnson and Arthur Jackson. These negroes had been bringing in cars for their owners and the officers were certain they had been going pretty fast. In this case It was the negroes words against that of three police officers of the highest standing and the judge fined them two dollars and costs each. but later, be- cause he dismissed the others. let them go too.
 Following the negroes. the case of A. W. LeBron. H. s. Houghton. J, M. Kennedy. Oscar Norman and C. P. An. derson. were tried In a bunch. H. &. Houghton, the officers said, had been a bit crusty. and when his name was ta- ken. in return took the names of the policemen. The officers said he also re- fused to answer certain duestions put to him so George Cantey hoped into the car and escorted Mir. HouRhton to