The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-18
NO MERCY FOR DUTTON.
CITY COUNCIL Is STANDING FIRM
ON WHISKEY FINES.
MenIbcrs Work Till After Midnight
AutOists PrOtcst-LOnnic VOgel
Asks For Mcrcy-DuttOn Must Go
To Chaingang-IIack Regulations
Changed-Other Matters.


all the members present except
Messrs. McLaurin and Glenn. They
remained in session till after mid
night, and transacted a great amount
of business.
Before the reading of the minutes a
committee from the Sumter County
Automobile Association appeared and
asked to he heard. DR.. Walter Cheynn
was chairman OF The committee ana
made a request that the law requir-
ing autos to stop at corners be re-
cinded. as it worked hardship upon
the owners Of the machines. He stat
ell that one purpose of the Associa-
tion was to guarantee the safety Of
the public and for good roads. He
promised that the Association would
| cooperate with the Council in every
way possible TO safeguard the public
safety. He said that the sidewalks
ly, while the streets belong both to
the pedestrian and the men with a
vehicle, and the pedestrian has no
right TO stand and talk in the street
and thus block up the thoroughfare.
He went into details minutely as to
the danger from automobiles. He
claimed that there was more danger
from reckless driving than from fast
driving. He argued that if the rules
OF the road were observed by all there
would be no chance Of accident. The
ordinance. he claims. Is unnecessary
and without precedent. He quoted
the larger cities where the autos go
around the corners and up and down
the street at much faster speed than
here.
Mr.. d. d. Noise urged the repeal
ing Of the ordinance also; as did DR..
Mood, who stated that no man was
ever hurt by an automobile going
|siower than fifteen miles an hour. He
advocated having a standard effic-
iency to go by, and that no child and
certain classes of negroes be allowed
to drive autos. nor should one who
does not know how to manage a ma
chine be allowed on the streets.
A member of the committee stated
that he had demonstrated to members
of Council that it was more danger
Gus to stop and then start again than
IL was to keep moving as the eye had
to be taken off the road for a few
seconds when the car was stopped.
This request was taken up in it's
regular order and action on it was
postponed till next meeting, although
1t was discussed at some length.
Council seems averse to being classed
with the King of France. who with
thirty thousand men marched up the
hill and down again. and the odri-
nance may be allowed to stand as it
Is, although there is no telling.
Mr.. /. n. Ryttenberg appeared be-
fore Council in behalf of the firemen
and asked that no privileges be grant
ed to sell cold drinks and the like in
the section of town where the tourna-
ment is To be held. This was taken
up I'm its regular order. Council de-
Gliding that they could not refuse IL
censes TO any who wanted them but
that they would grant 10 the fremen
the selling of privileges. and the reve-
nue. thus derived could go into the
treasury of the company
Mr.. T.. w, Vogel appeared before
Council in behalf of his son, Lonnie
Nog'l, who was recently convicted of
setting whiSkcy and fined 5000. He
asked that 500 of that fine be held
mp during good behavior as his son
was unable to pay IT, Council took
this mp i'm its regular order ana de-
cided that they could not remit or
hold up any part of the fine, as the
young man got off exceedingly light.
Mr. G. G. Smith appeared i'm behalf
of w. w. Dutton. who was convicted
of storing whiskcy and giving it away
for the purpose Of inducing trade and
fined 500 i'm the first case aud 5000
and thirty days ON the chaingang on
the others. The attorney stated that
the wife and mother are i'm poor health
and there are FIVE children. He made
a pitiful plea and the members Of
Council expressed themselves as be
ing very sorry for Dutton and his
family, but they feel that in a case Of
this kind the law must take its course.
The sale of whisliey must be stopped
and their policy would be to let the
sentence of the Recorder he enforced.
If 1t should become necessary Coun-
ell will holm Mrc nntt,n on1