The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-25
Says Member. Of Police
Board Made Him Vic.
late Speed Law.
MAYOR PROMPTLY
TAKES M TIER UP
Presents Letter From Dr.. VIII.
lians.. Who Quotes Chauffeur,
to Board, Every Commits
sioner Denying It. Try
ing to Get Man Who
Made Charge.

Charges made by chauffeur em-
ployed to operate a taxicab that mem
ber OF the Board OF Police Commissions
srs had authorized him to ignore and
violate the anti-speeding laws were
presented tosthe Police Board last night
by Mayor Richardson. Its ex- -ofilcio
chairman. Although no names were
mentioned, every commissioner entered
an emphatic denial, and to-day. Mayor
Richardson will endeavor to and the
Echauffeur and demand proof. explana-
ton o-sretraction. n:
The charge was first made IN state
ment to DR.. Ennion g. Williams, State
Commissioners OF Health. To the man
who made 1t Or. Williams stated that
he would send the report on to the
Mayor for such action as he might con-
sider advisable This he did yesterday.
his letter to Mayor Richardson being
read by the latter to the board.
Echo of Accident.
On the afternoon OF October 13 4
party OF visitors attending the Ma
tional Laundry Convention were upset
In a. taxicab accident at Fourth and
Grace Streets. in which Mrs. Joseph
Morton. OK Baltimore. was injured DR..
Williams. who happened to be nearby
at the time. advised that she be re-
moved at once to the Memorial Hos
pital. where physicians treated her.
One OF the women in the car declared
that the accident was due to the care
lessness OF the driver.
subsequently the driver, in company
with two other taxicab chaureurs.
eca ~ bn fn ~ gNVtl.
liams. Something was said about fast
driving. the man who figured In the
mix -up stating that passengers often
engaged cars with instructions to go to
certain destination In rather fast
time. One chauffeur. who was not driy-
ing the car when Mrs. Mortonswas hurt.
volunteered to Or. iilia.nx the infor-
nation about a "trip co Church Hill
and the charge against a Police Cons
missioner. y
DR.. Williams Immediately Informed
his visitors that while he knew nothing
about the, affair and was not partysto
lodging the charges. he would most cer-
stainly forward the information to May
or Richardson, to which no objection
was raised.
Letter to the Mayor.
Accordingly he sent the following
letter to the Mayor early yesterday:
Hon. D. G. Richardson. Mayor and
Chairman OF the Board Of Police
Commissioners. Richmond, Va:
Dear Sir,--This morning chauffeur.
OF one OF the taxtcabs came to see me
In regard to an accident in which he
had been concerned. re was accompa-i y
MED by two other taxicab ch.uffeurs.
In speaking to them ABOUT the exces-
siye speeding Of taxicabs and other aus
tomobfles in the city. they said they
had to drive fast, as they were so often
urged to do so by ths occupants. One
ofthe chauffeurs said that even some Of
the Police Commissioners would urge
them to speed. He cited as an example
that recently Police Commissioners
got in his 8taxlcab on Broad Street, sny-
ing he was late for an engagement,
and told him to open up and let her
,go'-that no one W Suld both srs him. He
took the commissioners to Church Hill
where the latter changed his clothes.
and brought him back In ten minutes,
The chaufre9r$did not mention the name
Of the commissioner. q 4 55{ Z; I.
@"I told the chauffeur would mention
this conversation to you. which j now
do, for whatever action you may deem
proper. Very respe fully,
"ElNNIoN G.. WILLIAMS"
.ficin '.-i.a ds: ytaomf nm
3 Wants Chautreur's Name.
3 Realizing at once that the charge
Should be promptly inyesti gated, and
,deploring the number Of automobile
accidents recently mentioned In the
Mayor Richard SCH put the
letter in his pocket and pre- sen ted IT
to the commissioners last night. The 4
Mayor felt that DR.. YilliamsFl had done
the proper thing in transferring the
ton to headquarters, his state
ment being accepted N by the entlro
board without quest ton. q ~ s.ss
Y But the statement, of the chauffeur
brought forth ndignant denials, es-
i'euiaiil from the two Church Hill
meimb ers. Commissio Toner Manning de-3|
airing that he had 4 never ri den In \
a taxic b in this city Mayor I; r ch-sI
confer With{S Dr. Williams to-day with
a lew Of securing the name of n the |
chauffeur, Al a ;. 5E
4 II Not Hiding Facts. n
Coming on top Of the inability Of
the Police Board and ne Council to
Get togethe and prepare "a ID dequates
traffic law, a fter SO man y, Z. accid dents SofsI
one Is Ind or Y another, q SSt 10 report
ct he 4c corone ner's j urys y est terd that
IT iis unwise to al oW theseS menacing.
mach ines to run In the city a t II speed
allowed to the far less y.lenacing street,
cars the Atayoraf felt t that If there was
evidence to show TINT a, commissioned
had yilful and de iberat te ly orced al
Viola c. II on of law, the facts should be
even III ltsl ed to 3 his dismissal
bY,St he Council orst the " Judge Of the
Hustin gs Court 4. a3 IS
here has been wi ida spread q denun-i|
clatt on; of the lncA of ed ed ~ eg isla-i|
tion and Fat the 4 failIre Of 3S the old
Council to enact a q ssYss lWhich chsEWoplds 4
he REQ q IS spirit of som q auto
nlohil e. owners III g n lGh Ghmon Auto
mobile Clu Jrecolllm lmen led a n pro Vision
! the law which NV Woul d "a eqn re II, e
tent. board and anot her sect ton wbicll|
would prevent he issua anc q of Ia icensei
totSa boy sund er ei s teen y rs got tsag e.s
BltEno thing has been G anu
that.lsaW laa aaopenly Y olat ei III I'D htaunder
Cont NIfnd ri m n T7 pa "a