New-York tribune., 1912-02-10
LAWN TENNIS AWAKENING AUTO CONFIDENCE GAME
Novel Case Finds Speedy SoIu-
ton in Local Court.
OF INTEREST TO DEALERS
Involves Point That May Become
Common-Proposed Changes
in Callan Law.

\ case OF extreme interest 10 all auto.
mobile dealers was tried before Judge Nc
AvOy I'm the City Court on Thursday. and
dismissed without going 10 the jury. IL
was get rich quick" proposition. in
yolving the sale OF car by man who
did not own IL TO man who paid out his
monev but vss never able 20 take pos
session. The Walingford in the case was
man who gave his name a. Pyne. and
so smoothly did the game work thst the
services Of Blsckie Dsw would have been
superfiuous
Late IN March Of last year Pyue ss hs
called himself entered the saIesroom Of
the Whiting Motor Company. AZ No 1909
Broadway, and inquired if the firm had
secondhand car for sale He was told
that they had a Stoddard- Dayton which
they would sell at $500 Pyne said he be-
lieved he could sell il if allowed TO give a.
demonstration Of the car. Would he be al
lowed TO do so?
We will send our man 10 demonstrate
the car said A II. Whiting, ono OF the
members Of the firm. but the car will not
pass from our possession unless you put
down $500 in cash for it,"
That would be satisfactory Pyne said.
. anu SiIs W lilllS DIutEtu Als lHdu W ldhS
the car for a demonstration. Proceeding
uptown, Pyne picked up a man named
Mead. the victim in the case. He was
taken for a ride, liked the car. and re-
turned 10 his home. There. as he sup
posed, he bought the machine. giving Pyns
500 In cash and a note for 500.
Now" said Pyne. "I'll run over and get
my own racing car and take you for a fast
run" He told the demonstrator the same
thing as he left the house, and walked
away. That was the last any one of the
interested parties saw OF Mr.. Pyne. Short
ly after Mr. Mead came out and told the
man he had purchased the car and or
dered him to take Il 10 garage.
My orders are TO take this car back 10
the shop" said the driver Thereupon Mr..
Mead called UP the Whiting Motor Com
pany and was told how matters stood.
About three days later he attempted 10
repleyin the car but could not locate it.
The outcome was a suit against the
Whiting Motor Company for 5000, repre-
/ senting the value Mr.. Mead placed on the
car and $3.50 for damages. The case wss
; called on Thursday. and after hearing the
evidence OF Mr.. Whiting. Mr.. Mead and
two or three others Judge McAvoy ruled
that the plaintiff had failed TO ablsh
proof that Pyne had acted as an agent or
that the. possession Of the car had passed.
As result of conferences held in this
I city and at Albany within the last few
/ days at which several Of the most infuen-
/ tial motoring organizations in the state
were represented. it was decided 20 intro
/ duce several bills in the Legislature for
! the purpose Of amending the highway law.
! especially Article H. commonly known as
/ the Callan motor vehicle law, which in
several particulars has not met with the
success which It's sponsors had anticipated.
Notwithstanding this Law became effec-
tive August J.. 1910. several attempts were
made 10 amend the act before 1t had been
thoroughlv tested, and il was agreed that
/ II would be unfair 20 make any radical
changes until the law had been in force at
/ least a year. Several minor amendments
were. however. made TO the law az the last
session OF the Legislature. but they are in
significant as compared with the bills now
being considered for introduction at this
session.
or the more important changes con-
sidered at the conference at Albany on
D p
mendatlons OF the Touring Club OF Amer
ica. which were unanimously adopted on
road users day. during the American Road
I Congress. held at Richmond, Va. last fall
/ They are as follows: Lights on all vehicles
from one hour after sunset 10 one hour
/ before sunrise; prohibiting the use of the
mufler Cut-out In cities and incorporated
. villages: adoption OF the Connecticut pro-
vision tor nonresident tourists, which
would make New York wide open state
I to nonresident owners and operators re-
siding in states granting TO New YORK
Owners and operators like privileges; an
amendment to provide for uniformity IN
the local ordinances In all cities ana lncor-
porated villages in regard To motor venice
regulation: prohibiting the use OF dazzlinS
headlights in all cities and incorporated
villages: providing for the Ming daiy o.
the records OF owners registered ana
cbsuffeurs licensed with the police au-
thorities in all cities requesting the same
amendment 10 provide that an applicant
for the original registration OF motor
vehicle who does not file his application
therefor until after February in any year
shall te entitled 10 pro rata reduction III
tho fea for such registration. calculated 10
tho first dav OF the month in which apph-
cation Is made; and amending the highway
law 70 provide for the transfer and juris-
d,ction of the automobile bureau from the
otBce Of the Secretary OF State 10 the De-
rartmcnt OF Highways