The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-22
CUMMINGS DROPS
 SlEMON CHARGES
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 am not satisfied that such is the case.
 Nevertheless, the nature of the af-
 fair; it's scandalous features and it's
 essential importance, made it my duty |
 to investigate with the utmost care.
 The testimony taken by Coroner
 PheIan and by Judge Booth covers a.
 typewritten record of more than six
 hundred pages. All this have read
 and re-read with attention: I have]
 visited the scene of the accident on | several occasions and I have made a, 1 di1igent effort to secure additional eyi- l
 dence. With this end in view, I have
 employed a special investigator. I 1 matters that seemed to justify further investigation, including even matters
 of ruInor that have come to my atten-l ton since took up the consid eration 1 of this case The difficulty is that 1 most of the significant evidence deals 1 l with the conduct of Siemon after the 1 | accident and not before or at the time l of the transaction. His conduct after
 the accident constituted clear breach l of the law.
 Under the provisd ors Of Section IT, l Chapter S3 of the Public Acts of 1911. l q One who knowingly goes away | without stopping and making himself
 known after causing injury to any 1 fined not more than $200. or irnpris- { oned not more than, six months, or 1 both, for a first offence.
 seThis offence was undoubtedly com | rr1itted but no prosecution therefor is possible as any such action must be l the offence shall have been commit l ted. See General Statutes. Revision f19o2, Section 1878.
 t"The conduct of Siemon, up to the ] time his automobfle struck DeMartino, l was, however, not clearly criminal. It | Srt vel | proof of such misconduct is not avail able to the State
 t ssJust before and at the time of the I accident SieInon was driving his auto II his own proper side of the street. The
 sidelignts of the automobile, were burning and it could not be showns l by conclusive testimony, that he was proceeding at an unreasonable rate of |l speed Moreover, it could be claimed |l in his behalf, and supp orted by credi- bIe and disiTterested testimony, that he eendeavored, to the extent of his ability to avoid hitting DeNartino. liwho just before the accidenN had been standing near the curb, in the shadow of a large pole at the corner and suddenly stepped out into the
 rather narrow street. If Siemon had
 immediately stopped, given succor to the injured man and aided in every way to repair at once so far as he COulQ,5 the injury H9 416Q c6CuSS0s there would have been no occasion for severe criticism and the thought of criminal proceedings might never have
 been seriously entertained. He yielded, however, to an Improper impulse and
 hastily departed from the scene of the accident and sought to conceal his connection with it,
 The transaction has been one which, no doubt, has caused him much
 regret and keen suffering and 1t has fl led to the writing of an unpleasant
 chapter in the history of the police
 department of Bridgeport. have no 1 he9ifatfon in comnrending' the fearless and intelligent investigation conducted
 by Coroner PheIan. He did his full duty in the matter. FSurthermore. I
 incident may have a beneficial reflect
 in disclosing the danger and futility involved in endeavoring to hidesa, sec-
 ret that the public is entitled to share.
 There is an abundance of evidence.
 lSsome of 1t recently obtained. to sup 2 port and justify what have said con-
 cerning the happenings after DeNTar- : 9ino was injured, but cannot discov- : CT any new evidence indicating crInni- 3 nal carelessness upon the part of : Siemon or at the time of the raccident. s t'Under the circumstances am not : inclined to ask for the issuance of a : bench warraIit.''
 r t- Carl F. Siemon, president of the Sie- : mon Hard Rubber company, was ar- f rested following an affidavit made by q Charles A. Pratt, formerly assistant : manager of the company This affi- s davit was filed with Assistant States e Attorney Carter and resulted in the g warrant being issued
 d SieTnon was tried before Judge Booth lof New Haven, who came to this city a Ito hear the evidence, The court found : that unlawful or negligent conduct on e Siemon's part was not shown and fe e could not find probable cause to hold e Sienon for manslaughter : Previous to the trial Coroner Phelan $ re-opened the inquest on DeMartino's s d death and number of witnesses were n examined President Hill of the po-
 lice board was among those called He k admitted that he had called a halt to E the investigation at the time the po- e lice were searching for the owner of " the car, just after the fatality in 1910. . President Hill declared he realized he o had made a mistake in taking this ac- ,f ton. Coroner Phelan found Sfemon -I Iguilty of negligence.
 Siemon made confession of his ' Iguit to Coroner Phelan and court pro- E Iceedings followed.