Norwich bulletin., 1909-04-24
Westerly Case in Supreme Court
Defendant Chaufeurs Exceptions Overruled-Case Goes
to Superior Court for Sentence-Liquor Cases Con-
tinued-Baptist Rally Day Servces-llerk Crandalls
Salary Increased

The supreme court of Rhode Island
handed down Thursday afternoon a
fescxipt in the Westerly case brought
against John V. Wexford. for driving
away without stopping after he had
knowingly caused an accident on the
Watch Hill road, by running his au-
tomobile into horse and wagon. The
DEFENDANTS exceptions are overruled
and the case is sent back TO the SUI
perior court for sentence.
The complainant. Chief BranSfield,
charged that the defendant on August
1898. "did not after knowingly caus-
ing an accident by collision with a
team on the highway, driven by one
Frank Collins, forthwith bring said
motor vehicle to full stop or return
to said scene of said accident, but then
and there voluntarily and without
excuse drove said motor vehicle away
from said scene Of said accident With
great speed, against the statute" etc.
The defendants motion TO quasil the
complaint was overruled in the su-
peTior court and exceptions taken. The
defendant was found guilty by jury,
and the defendants motion in arrest
of judgment was overTuied by the pre-
siding justice. The case went to the
supreme court On the defendants ex-
ception to the ruling Of the superior
court. The question involved included
the sufflciency OF the complaint and
whether the facts stated therein con-
stituted an offence against the laws of
the state
Considerable interest has been
shown in the outcome of this case in
view of the frequency with which au-
tomobiles speed away from an acct
dent In its rescript the court says
an opinion is to follow later.
In the civil suit for damages brought
by Collins, the supreme court gave de-
oision favorable to complainant few
weeks ago. Wexford, at the time Of
the mixup. was the chauffeur for the
McRae family Of Pittsburg. summer
residents of Watch Hill.
The regular session Of the Third dis
triet court, Judge oliver n. Williams,
was held in Westerly Friday. and near
~ an hour was taken up in the argu-
fnent Of a request from Attorney A. T.
J.. Ledwidge, that the liquor seizure
cases of vessels and liquors supposed
TO be the property OF oliver E. Cav
fit and seized in the two drug stores
in the Martin house block. Mr.. Led
widge declined to make appearance in
the cases, but asked for continuance,
stating that he would probably file mo
tons in the cases by next Wednesday,.
He wanted time 10 determine just what
Attorney Harry 3. Agard. the pros
ecutor, objected to this unusual mode
of procedure and stated that the state
was ready to proceed.
Judge Williams stated the position
OF the court IN the many points as
they were raised and finally decided
to deny the request Of Mr.. Ledwidge
that he be given time to consider
what he intended to do. especially as
no appearance had been made in court
as claimants for the seized vessels and
liquors.
The court then called the liquor seiz-
IRE cases. of both Gavitt and Almy,
for trial. Mr.. Ledwidge made ap-
pearance in both cases, and asked that
they be continued for one week. He
said he had been busily engaged IN
other courts and had not the time to
prepare defence in these cases. He
would like time TO consult with his
clients and to get at an understand