The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-06
CROUt's
TRAFFIC SQUAD
Score Of Automobiles Hailed To
Court as Result-Irwin Scrimger
Gets Barbed Shaft.

More than a score OF automobilists
who had clashed with the traffic Of
ficers stationed at the heavy" eros
sings, contributed to seriocomic
session IN Judge Phelans court room
Monday, when flashes Of humor pune
tuated the sern serious business OF
impressing upon the drivers the
necessity for implicit, unquestioning
obedience to the signals of the traffic
officers.
1.-THE traffic regulations are good
thing, and the traffic squad Is a good
institution, about the best thing that
Police Commissioner Croul has done, "
said Judge Phelan in passing sentence
on Alfred T. McKeown. an unruly
motorman.
1T has a big purpose. other than
the promotion of some or Commits
sioner Croul's cronies to good Jobs.
continued the court
McKeown was fined S., with the
option of serving three days, Tor
ignoring the signals or Patrolman
Jackson. The latter testified that
McKeown, a motorman on a Brush
car, had a bad habit OF ignoring sig
nails. and then putting his hand over
his mouth to conceal his mirth as he
passed the officer on the next trip.
Jackson said that other officers had
received the same sort Of hand-to-
mouth ha-ha from McKeown.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Pen
niman uncorked grin Of witticism at
the expense of Irwin s. Scrimger,
manager Of taxicab company, who
came into the limelight in connection
with a manslaughter case recently.
Scrimber had run in" with OFF,
Ger Joe" Kolb. who testified that
Scrimber disregarded his signals. and
abused MIN besides. Scrimber insist
ed that he had witness TO tell his
side Of the story and wanted the case
adjourned until he could produce the
witness, whom he named as Under
taker Nancy.
Don't you dare to 60 out in your
auto now, without taking an under
taker with your" asked Counsel Pen
niman, which was a shaft which
raised an upheaval In the court room.
Frank Raster, a young man from
the rural districts was gazing so hard
at a pretty girl as he drove across
Safest. at Woodward-ave., that he
never even saw Traffic Officer Rear
don. who was frantically signalling
him to stop. Reardon had to almost
drag rim from his seat. before he
could distract his attention. Raster
freely admitted the soft Impeachment
OF Reardon.
she was a dream, Judge" he re-
marked to Judge Phelan.
We'll, II isn't the first time that a
woman has turned mans mead. re-
marked the Judge. II would not rudely
awaken you from your dream. You
may go. Frank. aud dream on, but
keep one eye peeled for traffic officers
In the future"
John c. Rabaut, No. $50 Fourth-ave.,
vas not In court to answer Officer
Kolb's charge that he had totally ig-
nored the officers signals. and even
his very presence on the crossing.
Kolk was rather indignant about II.
He said he couldn't understand II.
THE young man was with sis
father" said Kolb. The father saw
my signal, and nudged his son, but
the young man kept right on talking
and drove right past me. had to run
across the campus and start to climb
into the car before he paid any atten-
ton to me-"
Perhaps ! can explain remarked
Judge Phelan, quietly. THE young
mans father was here this morning
To say that his son was being married
and couldn't appear in court. He ex
planned that he and his son were talk
ing about the approaching wedding
when they passed you by. Did you
notice any mental alteration. as II
were, Mr.. Kolb?" Mr.. Kolb, who is a
German. earnestly answered that he
had noticed no such thing.
did he seem agitated, or give any
indication of insanity such as Nigh;
be possessed by young man about to
do such a thing as he was contem
lplating?' asked the Judge. Kolt