The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-03-25
M'DANIELS FINED FOR
RECKLESS DRIVING
Driver Of Big Machine Which Caused
Accident to c. ]. Thornton, Was
Fined $5.00.-ReckIess and Careless
Driving Will be Prohibited.

The first steps towards interfering
with the habit of careless and reck-
less driving of automobiles on the
public streets. of the city were taken
by Judge Davis, in the police court
this morning, when L. ]. McDaniels
was fined $500 and costs for this
offense.
The trial of Mr.. McDaniels was the
result of an accident to G. ]. Thorn
ton, which occurred Wednesday af-
ternoon, an account of which was CIV
en- in these columns yesterday. Mr..
Thornton testified in court this morn
ing that as a result Of careless and
reckless driving by McDaniels, seri-
Gus accident to himself and small
boy, who was in the buggy with him
when the accident occurred, was mar.
rowly averted.
1t was shown by witnesses that the
automobile was being driven at
rapid and unreasonable rate of speed;
that it approached Mr.. Thornton from
the rear, and that there was no pos
sibilty of getting out of the way of
! the machine in time to avoid an acci-
dent, although an attempt was made
to do so. Mr. Thornton stated that
he had horse tied to the rear end
of the buggy in which he was riding
and that this animal, becoming fright
ened at the automobile, jumped en-
tirely over the buggy and alighted be-
tween the shafts of the buggy which
he was driving That in making the
leap, the horses hoof struck him on
the head and inflicted a painful wound
| Mr.. Mcdaniel testified that he was
running at the rate of twelve miles
per hour; that he had inquired of one
OF the city councilmen as to the speed
limit and had been informed that it
was fifteen miles per hour. He stated
that his reason for not blowing the
horn was that he noticed the rest
lessness of the horse which Mr..
Thornton was leading, and thought
the horn might frighten him. 1t was
show tnhat the defendant did not
stop to ascertain the amount of dam
age done by the accident, but that
when Mr.. Thornton got to his feet
after falling from the buggy, the big
machine had passed altogether out OF
sight.
In summing up the evidence, Judge
Davis read the ordinance against
reckless and careless driving of auto
mobiles and other vehicles, and stated
that. under the circumstances, he
could see no reasonable excuse fol-
such an accident as had just been re
lated. lie could see no reason why
an automobile should be driven at such
g rapid rate of speed, possibly endan
gering the lives of pedestrians and
occupants of other vehicles.
In assessing a fine of $500 against
the defendant Judge Davis stated
that he would hereafter expect the
police to watch all automobiles ant
see that they were not driven in {
careless or reckless manner and a
an unreasonable rate of speed, espe
cially on corners and streets which ar,
at times crowded with traffic. In hi
opinion, five miles an hour was al
fast, under ordinary circumstances
as an automobile should be driver
within the city limits, and any speet
in excess Of this was, in his opinion
dangerous to the life and property o
citizens.
There is no ordinance regulating
the speed of automobiles, and 1t 1
said that the attention of the counci
will be called to this matter and it |
thought that suitable ordinanc
will be drafted and passed at tn
next meeting of the board.