New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-02
PELL TAKES DAY IN
JAIL FOR SPEEDING
Society Man Chooses Lock-
Up Rather than Pay
His $25 Fine.
BUYS LUNCHEON
FOR CELLMATES
Courts SWamped with Work
When Police Begin Campaign
to Cure Speed Mania.

Theodore Roosevelt Pell, prominent in
society, a real estate operator and sports
man, experienced yesterday a brief taste
Of prison life. With several other resi-
dents of the city and neighboring towns
Pell elected 10 serve day in Jail rather
than pay fine Of So, for violation of the
city automobile laws. when he was ar
raigaed before Magistrate Nolan in York
Vile court.
Because OF the large number Of cases
before the court. Pell and his companions
were forced to stay in cells more than an
hour after their sentences expired at 4
o'clock, as the commitment papers could
not be signed in time. SlXty-three motor
owners or drivers were the companions
Of Pen in the prison. Twenty-Five others
paid fines.
PatolmaD Ochsenhart said Pen was
running his automobile twentyeisht miles
an hour in Fifth avenue on Sunday. Pel
said he was ignorant of the rate OF speed
When told that he could escape payment
Of the s25 fine by spending the day in jail
he said:
Then l will so 10 jail ! know ] Will
have some companions there.
Buys Luncheon for Cellmates.
The realty man occupied cell No. H., on
the first tier. With him were three other
"speeders" who objected TO paving the
fine. Their seven or more hours OF I'M
prisonment were passed reading news
papers. smoking and conversation. Pell
declined TO comment on his preference
for TAIL. However, he declared he had an
interesting time and enjoyed himself He
said he preferred TO give the money TO
charity and showed his sincerity OF
ordering from nelghboring restaurants
luncheons for his fellow prisoners. At
the expiration of his sentence Mr.. Pell
Jumped into his automobile and went TO
his home. No. 66 East 18th street. He is
a brother of 5. Osgood Pel who was
killed recently in an automobile accident
at a railroad crossing in Long Island.
Police magistrates and others interested
in curbng the reckless speed of United
States mail motor trucks obtained a
measure of satisfaction yesterday, when
il became known that one chauffeur had
been punished. Charles LauX. OF No. 50
Bank street. who was arrested on Octo-
her %, was found guilty OF reckless driv-
ing by Magistrate Deuel. in jefferson Mar
ket court He was fined s25 or two days
imprisonment
PatroIman Silberbauer said LauX was
going twenty-four miles an hour. endan-
gering those who were crossing the street
At 149th street there were large crowds
crossing the street, and Silberbauer said,
IauX gave no signal Of any kind, turning
this corner at about eighteen miles an
hour. Silberbauer said Laux did not sound
his gong once during the entire trip. This
vas characterized by the court as "con-
elusive evidence Of recklessness."
For violating the speed ordinance III
motor car drivers visited the West Side
court Yesterday. The majority were fined
sums ranging from So TO $50 Few Sc
lected the prison term alternative Magls-
trate Levy was compelled 10 sit in cham
hers for the regular court work TO allow
Magistrate Krotel to dispose Of the auto
mobile cases.
Three Of those arraigned before Magis-
trate Krotel we're women. each Of whom
paid fine Of $50. They were Frances
Goate, of Brooklyn; Jean f. Noble, No. =
Fairmont avenue, and Edna NJ. Parks
No. $50 West 18th street.
Street Full of Autos.
West 54th street, between Eighth anc
Ninth avenues, was crowded with automo
hiles. and when court convened the court
room was thronged with car owners
chauffeurs, witnesses and policemen. TIT
unusual number Of these cases was due e
a campaign against speeders Saturday
and Sunday. A majority Of arrests were
made In Broadway or Fifth avenue. Man!
OF the cases were adjourned. Thirty-twC
refused 10 pay the fine and were sent hV'
days to Jail. The amount Of fines collected
IN this court was $3.50 and $500 was paic
in Jail. One speeder told the court h'
was hurrying home. as two Of his children
were III with diphtheria. He was dis
charged.
Magistrate Krotel declared that IL ht
was sitting In the West Side court regu
larry he would Increase the fines day by
day until he had reached the maximum
500. He said the speeding Of automobile
had become epidemic and should b'
stopped
Magistrate House, in Harlem court, also
had large number Of speed law VIC
lstors before him In sentencing them he
advocated the use Of motorcycle police
men in all districts all the time. Other
wise this spasmod:c crusade can 10 no
good he said.
Magistrate Appleton, in the West Farms
court. fined Robert Burnam SIS. Burnam
has won many automobile races and lives
At the Hotel Wellington. Patroman
Donovan said he was driving his car
Twenty-Five miles an hour.
Uavemeyer Budd, Of the Union Club,
was charged with driving at an excess
siye speed. but was discharged, as no
evidence Of a law violation was produced.
b. Ray Paige. president Of the Detroit
Motor Car Company, and John Emmer-
son. a stage manager for Charles Froh-
man. also faced the court. Most Of the
defendants were chauffeurs.