Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-03
POLICE CHIEF
OPENS WAR
ON SPEED
FIENDS
Injury of Little Eva Fitzpatrick by
Motorist Who Fled Scene
StirS Beavers.

War was declared THURSDAY Dy
Chief OF Police Beavers upon auto
mobile speed fiends as the result OF
the conduct Of the automobiles who
ran down 14-year old Eva Fitzpatrick
on Mills Street Wednesday and then
raced on without stopping to learn
the extent Of the girls injuries
The car was going at express speed
and was upon the terrified girl before
she could make any effort to escape,
She was hurled from the middle of
the street to the sidewalk where sha
lay unconscious. The large touring
car dashed on and turned into Will
liams Street before its number could
be taken
The police dragnet is out for the
driver Of the car. Special men have
been detailed to learn his identity.
All Of the police have instructions to
assist in the crusade which has been
/ started against reckless driving.
Mothers Aid Police.
Chief Beavers and Recorder Nash
Broyles in strongest terms Thursday
denounced the speed mania and pro-
claimed war upon the violators of the
traffic ordinances. They were Joined
in their campaign by the mothers liv-
ing in the vicinity Of the Fitzpatrick
girls home at ia Hamilton Street
They have organized themselves into
a vigilance committee to take tina
numbers Of the cars that flash by and
report them to the police
Recorder Broyles was particularly
bitter in his denunciation of the
speeders who daily are defying the
ordinances and endangering the lives
of pedestrians. He would not discuss
the Fitzpatrick case, as the automo-
bilist might be brought before him for
trial. but he said, in discussing reck-
less driving generally:
These speed maniacs who ars
brought before me are going TO get
the limit. This extremely dangerous
practice must stop, If there is any
way to lessen the number of victims
Of this speeding Juggernaut. which
takes q frightful toll annually in all
of the cities Of the country. this court
is going to support that plan with all
It's might.
Atlanta automobi1ists show a
wanton disregard for the lives Of
other people. Because prosecutions
in the past have not been so frequent
or so severe as they might they have
taken a ruthless license that daily
puts lives in peril. The wonder is
that more accidents are not reported.
Stockade Term Threatened.
The drivers have become so law
less and careless of life that this
court in the future may be relied
upon to give the violators the limit
Whether or not the offending motor
list Is a member of a wealthy family,
he will be sent to the stockade If it
is proved that he is guilty OF the
brutal disregard for human life which
has been evident on the streets of At
lanta since the summer season be-
gan this year"
Chief Beavers branded as an inhu-
man outrage the action OF the auto
mobiHst who ran down the Fitzpatrick
girl
1T is difficult" said the Chief Ito
conceive OF the humanity that will
permit a man. after he has been the
cause of an accident that has MANNED
or possibly killed an innocent little
girl. to speed on out Of sight, never
even looking back nor returning to
extend what aid he can.
Il have detailed men especially on
this case. We are trying to learn the
identity Of the driver The only wom-
an who saw the accident tells US that
the car was going so fast she could
not be certain whether the driver was
a white man or a negro
Angry Mothers on Watch.
Mrs. A. J. Heyback of As Mills
Street. in front of whose home the
accident occurred, was greatly
aroused Thursday over the narrow
escape from death of the Fitzpatrick