Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-24
Ill HUMOR SAVES
MRS. PARNHAM
AUTO FINE
Husband Says She Was Moody
at Home When Policeman
Claimed She Overspeeded.


the charge OF speeding in her auto. Il
was the most novel defense that ever
won a case in the Atlanta courts
Mrs. Parnham recently came here
with her husband from New York and
lives in the Frances apartments. in
Peachtree street Mr. Parnham is dis
trict manager here for a big New York
concern with offices in the Gambler
building. and his wife is one of the
lanta's social world.
Mr.. Parnham put this particular At
Of bad humor of his wife in issue in an
effort to show a case of mistaken iden-
Gty on the part of an officer Police
man J. E Mcdaniel testified that he
saw a stylishly attired man and woman
speeding in an auto in Ponce DeLeon
avenue, and that the number of the car
correspondent with that of Mr. Parn
ham This was between $50 and 6
O'Clock in the afternoon.
Wife Was at Home at Time
Then came the unique alib Mr..
Parnham said:
Judge, it's all mistake left my
Offices in the Gambler building about
$50 O'Clock. and had to take my car to
4 garage for repairs. arrived at my
apartments at 6 o'clock. There | was
astonished to find my wife in a bad hui
NOR. 1t was zen minutes before | could
get her in a good humor and persuade
her to go out riding with me. 1t was
then nearly $50 before We left the
apartments and we were not on Ponce
DeLeon avenue at all
Mrs. Parnham stood close by her hus-
band. but she offered no word of pro-
Test at this statement. A suspicion of
smile played about her mouth. and
her eyes twinkled.N
The officer was certain he had the
right number and said three other Of
icers along the street had noted the
same number Their evidence could
not be accepted, how ever. as they were
not in court officer Mcdaniel asked
- describe the woman in the car, said
She was pretty had very black hair,
and wore stunning red hat
Why. Judge | haven't a red hat al
III" exclaimed the young woman,
milling.
officer Mcdaniel estimated the speed
If the rushing car at IS or 80 miles an
hour Mrs Parnham protested that she
mad only recently learned to operate a
car. and that she is afraid to drive
more than Is miles an hour"
IS Miles Insane" Speed Here.
And I think any person who win
drive an auto 25 or 80 miles an hour
over these rough streets in Atlanta
ought to be placed in the insane asy-
um" quickly spoke up Mr. Parnham
Well il we imposed this penalty,
we'd overrun all of the asylums in the
country" came in quick response from
the court.
Judge Broyles finally decided there
must be some mistake about the car,
and dismissed the case Mrs Parn-
hams face beamed and, murmuring
Thank you Judge" she left the court
room.
Stewart Witham son of w S. With
am, and Walter Gambler son of Asa G
Gambler the two young clubmen were
also among the autoists tried yester-
day afternoon, the case of Witham
being dismissed, and Gambler being
fined S575. William was accused of
interfering with Policeman Welchel
when he sought to make a case against
Williams negro chauffeur. Gambler
was charged with speeding.
Judge Broyles held that the officer
was perfectly right in stopping the ne
gro chauffeur to make case against
him for having his muffler open. but
said he should have made the case
without paying any attention to any
remarks made by young Witham. He
ruled that remarks made by Witham
were not sufficient to be construed as
interfering with an officer
Several prominent citizens testified
for Witham
F. L. de Marco of the Majestic no
tel grew facetious when arraigned. and
caused a roar of laughter Judge
Broyles made $5.75 the standard fine
for the afternoons speeders, and sew.
eral offenders had already been as
sessed this penalty when de Marco
faced the court.
What have you to say, Mr.. de Mar
coz" asked the recorder
Five seventy five, ! reckon he re-
piled suavely His marked good hu-
NOR caused even the judge to smile as
he said:
"All right; I'll let it go at that"
Burkhardt's Car Speedy.
j. 6. Burkhardt Of 1858 Washington
street caused the recorder to start.
when he coolly admitted his car was
running 80 miles an hour
What Have you a car that can &C
tually make more than ten miles an
hour"
Burkhardt said his car could easily
make fifty
Wei. you certainly deserve a chro-
mo. It's such rare thing that we
ever get an autoist here whose car is
able to make more than ten miles an
hour" said the court sarcastically.
Burkhardt received the customary fine
Herbert Sitter, driver for Oscar
Pappenheimer; +. J. Akridge. a mech
anician for the Cole Motor Company
John Griffin, driver for the Nunnalls
n ~. nv (fbo fin drive, -.