The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-05

the State police, Frank verelli was
delegated to come to town and watch
tor all who might break the law. He
took a position near Mill River bridge
last Sunday from 1 until about 4 p. M.
and during that time he secured the
numbers of four machines which he
test1f1ed were going more than % miles
an hour. He measured off a space
of a little over one-eighth of a mile
from a point on the road where there
was puddle as big ''as a tub and
through which an automobile would
cause a splaShing of the water suf-
the one-eighth of a mile where Mr..
Verelli was stationed. He used
stop watch to get the speed of the
passing vehicles and found they were
seconds. The numbers of the ma
chimes having been reported to Attor-
ney Clitus King. the prosecutor. four
warrants were made out to John Doe
and Richard Roe. They were return
able at o'clock yesterday at the town
hall, but there was some delay in get
ting the attorneys and the witnesses
together.
The first case called was that of Ed
ward ]. Thomas of South Norwalk.
Attorney Leo G. Davis. of Herbert &
Davis. appeared for the defense. He
put the State policeman through
close questioning. and at the end of
the examination it appeared that no
evidence had been adduced connecting
MT. Davis with the machine. He was
not recognized by Mr.. Vereli. Motion
was made that the defendant be dis
charged. and the court so ordered.
The second case was that of Carl
Reck. the well known and popular flor
ist of Bridgeport. The State police
man had the same story to tell about
him which he told about Mr.. Thomas.
Mr.. Reck took the witness chair in
his own behalf and told very
Straightforward and convincing story.
He admitted that he was driving his
own machine. and that he had taken
an invalid lady friend out for a drive
to Norwalk as the day was pleasant.
His speedometer never registered over
20 miles an hour, and frequently he
drove much slower. as the wind was
strong, and the lady in his automobile
was nervous. He was some four hours
on the road, and he was sure he did
not run through the puddle which the
policeman had fixed upon as the be-
ginning of the space which had been
marked out for the timing On his us
way back to Bridgeport from Norwalk
he stopped at Bulkley's garage and at
the Mill River dam to take look at
the water flowing over and also at the
PequOt monument to read the inscrip-
ton. He had perfect control of his
machine all the time. and at one point
he saw a couple of children playing
near the roadside and he slowed down,
for he is as afraid of children as he is
of COW, and knows that they will
run in front of a machine in trying to
cross the road. Attorney ClituS King
was of the opinion that there had been
a technical violation of the law, and
the court thought the same, but it wa S
decided that Mr.. Reck be found not
guilty on the ground that the road was
clear, that there had been no reckless
ness, that no one was endangered, and
that it was not perfectly clear whether
the State policeman had got the exact
time. Two other cases for which war
rants were issued were not called as
the parties failed to appear. Mr..
Redding, Of Davenport & Banks, con-
Quoted the case for Mr.. Reck.
An old man has been caught in town
selling chestnuts. AS it is not against
the law. he was allowed to plod on his
weary way.
The ladies who are to give a real
cusky minstrel show at the Country
Club on Greenfield Hill tonight and
tomorrow are Mrs. William H. Wilson,
Mrs. Fred Wakeman. Mrs. w. T. Fail
Ion, Mrs. M. r. Perry, Mrs. Charles
Wakeman. Mrs. S. c. Bradley, Mrs.
A L. Buckley. Mrs. A H. Brothwell,
Mrs. Wilmer Pratt. Misses Kate, Ma
bel and Ethel Knapp. Miss Edna
Bullsiey, Miss Ethel Wissner, Miss
Maud Wilson, and others.
The engagement is announced of
Miss Emily Bedford to Mr.. Preston
Davis of Kentucky.
Miss Helen Forsythe has a severe
cold.
The next meeting of the Sewing Club
win be at the house of Assistant Post
master George H. Smith.
Next Sunday will be Mothers Day
at the Congregational church on
Hill