New Britain herald., 1915-11-26
WARM RECEPTION IS
 GIVEN "JOY RIDERS"
Fines Totaling $150 With Costs Imposed in Berlin Town Court
JOHN REED IS ACCUSED
New Britain Man Assessed $50 For Reckless Driving and $1OO For Driv- ing Auto While Under Influence of Liquor-Appeal Taken
! Especial t~ the Herald }

Especial t~ the Herald)
 Berlin, Nov. 26-John Reed, ot New Britain was fined $50 and
 costs on the charge of reckless
 driving and $1OO and costs on the
 charge of driving an automobile on
 Wednesday night while under the in- tluence of intoxicating liquor by Judge George Griswold in the town
 court this morning. Attorney D. E. O'Keefe of New Britain appeared for the defendent and William H. Gibney prosecuted. When put to plea the ac- cused pleaded not guilty.
 Harry L. Schor of MiddletoWn was the first witness for the state. He said he was a wholesale candy dealer and was returning from New Britain We'd nesday between 7 and o'clock in the evening when he was run down by the defendant at the bridge on Farm ington road near the Lincoln cemetery. The witness claimed his car was on the right side of the road, the two right wh cells of his machine being in the middle of the trolley track, which runs along the side of the road. He noticed the large touring car, driven by Reed coming along in a zig-zag course and in an instant his car was struck and completely turned around. The big machine, which is a 1911 Ca dillac, did not stop until it had gone 100 yards after striking him. Reed was driving at a high rate of speed and this accounted for his inability to stop sooner, said the witness. When Reed alighted from his machine, he staggered at.out the road according to the witness. Cross examined by At tOrney O'Keefe, witness said he was going about eighteen miles an hour and insisted Reed was responsible for the accident.
 Hired to Go to Meriden.
 Reed was then called to the stand and said he lived on East Main street, New Britain, and was employed in one of the factories there as a core maker. He runs a "jitney'' busi- ness on the side. He was parked near the Riker-Hegeman Drug store on Main street, New Britain, on We'd nesday afternoon, when Anthony Schultz, accompanied by John Fusari and Louis Marsh came along and hired to take them to Meriden. When asked by the prosecutor the witness denied vehemently that he had been d drinking. He admitted stopping at Muzzi & Whites cafe, but said he had nothing to drink there. While in Meriden the party stopped at several saloons, but he stayed in his machine. Coming down Flannery's Hill, he saw the Ford business car approach ing him, but as it was over to he right of the road, he had plenty of room to pass it. As he reached the Lincoln cemetery, the Ford swerved from it's course and struck the side of his car. He stopped and assisted Schor to move the latter's machine off the car tracks. He claimed the fault if any lay with Schor
 Testimony Conflicts.
 Anthony Schultz, a cafe owner of 22O East Main street, New Britain, John Fusari and Louis Marsh, both of the Hardware City corroborated Reeds testomony. The witnesses were very voluble in their testimony and Prosecutor Gibney continually warned them to answer his questions directly. There were several tilts between the Prosecutor and Lawyer O'Keefe over the admission of evi- dence. The testimony of these wit nesses conf1icted in several parts Schultz said he had known Reed for two months after the latter had said he never saw his customers before
 Constable William Ritchie, who made the arrest, testified he found the accused in Muzzi & Whites saloon shortly after. the accident and both the prisoner and Marsh acted as though they were intoxicated. He summoned Reed to appear in court after taking his license number.
 Bunch of Drunken Joy Riders"
 In summing up. Prosecutor Gibney characterized Reed and his com panions as a 'bunch of drunken joy riders and intimated the witnesses had committed perjury. Their evil dence conf1icted upon several import ant points he said and he felt an ex- ample should be made of Reed for violating the statutes. Attorney O'Keefe asked for a discharge on the grounds the state had not proved that Reed was at fault for the collision.
 Judge Griswold found the accused guilty of both charges and assessed driving and $1OO and costs for driv- ing a machine while under the in fluence of intoxicating liquors. At- torney O'Keefe took an appeal and bonds were placed at $500. Reed of fered his automobile as bond and it was accepted by the court.