Norwich bulletin., 1911-08-12
ROGERS FINED IN WESTERLY COURT
Boston Chauffeur Appeals From Penalty For Overspeed ing and Reckless Driving-Towp Council Aids New Haven Road in Pushing Station Improvements Hard Worked Chief of Police Voted Two Months Leave of Absence, With Full Pay.

That there was more than ordinary interest in the enforcement of the au tomobile laws in Westerly was shown by the attendance at the session of the Third district court Friday Among the spectators were a majority of the members of the town council several representative business men, and several residents of Watch Hill The case on trial was that of Sidney l.. Rogers, chauffeur for Arthur Mer- riam of Boston, charged with reckless driving and with exceeding the speed limit on the Watch Hill road, Wed nesday morning. For the convenience of parties in interest, Judge Oliver H. Williams commenced the hearing al 10.3e. Town Solicitor Henry B. Agard represented the state and Herbert W. Rathbun the accused.
 Albert II. Langworthy. the first wit ness, testified that he was with his son Ma than in the latter's automobile, alongside the automobile of Elihu CheeSbro, superintendent of highways, h about thirty feet south of the trolley track to Plea View and at a stand still, when he saw the car driven by Rogers come along. The automobile came down the hill at terrific speed. passed a team going up the hill and sped by the witness at rate of forty miles an hour. He caught the number of the machine. 6975 R. l. The chauf- feur was driving reckiessly and going fast The witness said he was all through the San Francisco earthquake, but it did not affect his nerves as much as did that automobile, as he feared 1t would crash into the automobile in which he was seated He said if the car happened to skid in crossing the trolley track a collision could not be avoided. The speed was not reasona ble, under the conditions. He had never driven an automobile but had ridden in them considerably and made 1t . point to watch the Speedometer.
 MT. Langworthy said he was inter- ested in the prosecution Of viola tors of the automobile law, but was sorry that MT. Rogers was the victim. for he rather liked the looks of the ac- cused. He made complaint to Chief Bransfieid and Rogers was arrested soon thereafter. Where Rogers passed him the highway was over thirty five feet in width, and that not over d third of the roadway was taken up by the two automobiles that were at a standstill.
 when he first saw the car coming down the hill head on it was making considerable noise and attracted his attention. The driver had no trouble getting by the team on the hill nor the two utomobiles, for Rogers han died the car Nike an expert. but he took a chance. He kept to the right
 
 to have the car under control, but he did not believe he could stop the car very quickly in an emergency The car went so fast that he could not identify the driver, who wore brown clothing but did recognize him after the arrest. Rogers drove recklessly down the hill and across the trolley and then by the two automobiles with out diminishing his speed.
 Nathan Langworthy, son of the pde- ceding witness, testified that he re- sided in Hartford and had been sew mobile He could not identify the driver but he noted the number of the ear, which was being driven recklessly and at a high rate of speed. He said he had owned and driven automobiles for three years and had covered about 60,ooe miles. and was very familiar with the highways of the town of Westerly IH his opinion the car was travelling at the rate of thirtyfive or forty miles an hour, and could not be stopped in the distance from the troll Isy tracks to where his automobile YVES standing It was a guess as to the rate of speed and possibility of mistake. He did not base his opinion on speed by the noise the automobile was making.
 highways. testified that Rogers was driving awfulIy reckless" and not in a reasonable way
 Mir. Cheesbro said he cid not be- 1ieve there was ever Q better driver than Rogers. He kept to the right of the road and worked his car wonder fully. He certainly was going over speed limit.
 Robert Hoxie testified that he, was in Mr. Cheesbro's machine and saw Rogers' rpachine come down the hill very fast, and he should say very reck- less He could not estimate his speed by mile rate.
 Frank Turano, employed in a Main street garage. testified that MT. Mer- rams automobile left the garage at s.45 Wednesday morning and in the direction of Watch Hill.
 Harry E. Hart of New Britain testi- fled that he is staying at the Wayne cottage Watch Hill, occupied in part by MT Merriam. The car was ten- dered him to take him to the railway station, Wednesday morning. The car arrived at the cottage at just 1920.
 Sidney l.. Rogers, the accused, tes- ti7ed that he had operated fifteen or twenty automobiles over 150,000 miles. had been an operator since 1902, and had never been arrested before, nor even warned as to his operation of au- tor of Mfr. Merriams car and had been in Westerly about six months. The car was of chain drive and the noise gave impression that there was more speed than actual He said the ma chine was on third speed going down the hill and was going at the rate of twenty or twenty-two miles an hour. He left the garage in Main street at