Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-22
BROKEN
BYHER:,SAYS
RECORDER
Declares She Should Have Called
PoIiceman-Says 1t Is Not
"Masher" Case.

Recorder Broyles Saturday issued
statement explaining why he imposed
a fine of 1915 on Miss Lee Willard
Austin, the young cashier who
thrashed an annoying taxi driver with
her parasol at Broad and Luckie
streets.
Judge Broyles stressed the point
that this incident is different from a
"masher" case, as it has been classed.
He also emphasized the fact that he
put this small fine onsMi Austin
for the reason that she took the law
into her own hands and created a
scene in the street instead of calling
a policeman mad having the offending
chauffeur arrested.
The law makes no distinction as to
men and women, he said, and women
are given no more right to violate the
law than are men.
"some Misrepresentation"
Here is Judge Broyles statement:
There seems to be some misappre-
hension about the case OF the young
woman who was fined the other day
for beating a white chauffeur with her
umbrella on the public streets of the
city. This case was written up in
sensational style as that of woman
being fined for defending herself from
a masher,' whereas it was a very diff
ferent case.
THE evidence showed that a white
chauffeur, making a living by driving
a taxicab, and located near the cor
ner of Luckie and Broad streets had
hollered out to Miss Austin, as she
walked by his place of business, Taxi
cab Taxicabl Want a taxicab?'
Miss Austin testified that for sew
eral months this man had annoyed her
and other girls by calling to her in
this manner every time she passed mis-
place of business, but that he had
never attempted any other familiarity
Caused Disturbance, He said.
"On this occasion, as soon as he
spoke to her, she lit in on him with
her umbrella, striking him several
times over the head and causing a
large crowd to gather to watch the
fracas.
Il thought it very doubtful II the
chauffeur intended any familiarity
with the young woman, but fined him
a small amount for annoying her by
so persistently calling out to her,
Taxi. want a taxi?' whenever she
passed by.
Il fined the young woman in still
smaller amount (s3.75) for taking the
law into her own hands and creating
an unnecessary disturbance and ex-
element on the street. | say unnec-
essary. for she could easily have got
ten a policeman in few seconds and
had her annoyer arrested Instead,
she preferred to take the law into her
owr hands and create scene.
Raps Law Violators.
I'VE have policemen and courts 10
punish people who violate the law
Two wrongs never make right. 1t
was wrong for this chauffeur to annoy
Miss Austin, and fined him for IT.
1t was wrong for Miss Austin to fight
him instead OF calling a policeman,
and fined her for it.
81 am sworn to uphold the law, and
intend to keep my oath whether the
offender be a man or woman. There
are too many violations of law now
In our city and all over our country.
"Our citizens should help to Uphold
the law, and when they see someone
violating it they should call police
man and let the law punish the Of
fender instead OF taking the law into
their own hands, thereby violating the
law themselves
And it is no excuse because this
second breaker of the law happens 10
be a woman