New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-07-02
TRAFFIC COPS MUST
PRODUCE WITNESSES
Ruling Of Judge Meskill Regard
ing Automobile Law Violations

e X 4 A *
"All traffic officers ought to bring
more witnesses than themselves into
court when they arrest an automo-
bAist for a violation of the automo-
bile law"
Judge James T. Meskill made this
statement in police court this morn
ing as he continued the case against
Clifford Foliage, chauffeur for F. II.
Afford, who is charged with driving
his automobile past standing trolley
car in front Of the City hall station
Yesterday, This case was partly tried
this morning and some unusual things
occurred in connection as Mr.. Afford
himself, with the permission of the
and questioned asd cross questioned
the witness as a lawyer would do. He
then took the witness stand himself.
Officer Clarence Lamphere arrested
Feilage and said that yesterday morn
ing while eight or nine people were
getting eff and on the CIR at the City
hall station the accused drove by. He
said that he gave the signal for a team
in front Of the autoist to proceed
around him to the left and down the
west side OF Main street and at the
same time Foliage drove straight
ahead, disregarding his signal to stop.
The autoist did not come to stop
until he had gone about sixty feet
ahead Of the car and then only when
a witness called for him. to stop.
Mr.. Afford started to question
the officer closely. He asked him If tse
accused was able to produce witnesses
to say that the car was not at stand
still what would he say.
If you want this case continued I'll
bring a dozen witnesses to prove that
the car was at a staIdstill,'' shouted
back the officer
Foliage himself declared that what
the officer said was not so. He said
that when the policeman gave the
team ahead the signal to go he took
it as a signal for. himself as well. He
also argued that in Hartford q police
ma had told him not to bother about
watching the trolley cars, but to watch
the policeman and take the signals
from him.
This statement was ruled out as ir-
revelent and Judge Meskill said:
You'd better pay more attention to
:
The law is superior to the officers
Mr. Afford took the stand and said
that In the car at the time besides
himself were William Bulkeley and E..
w. Mildrum of Berlin. He also de-
clared that the car was moving when
his machine passed and that nobody
was getting on or off.
Again called to the stand, Officer
Lamphere declared that g. motion
given by a traffic officer is only for
the vehicle ahead and that each sue
cessive vehicle Is to receive signal
in turn. Otherwise car going to the
left would have clear road and
the one behind going. straight might
not and bad lnixup would result,
Furthermore the officer e1nphatically
stated that the trolley car was at "a
standstill and that when the auto
passed it there we're two passengers
still on the running board and that
the auto did not stop until It was
fully sixty feet beyond the trolley.
The case was continued until to-
morrow morning so that the state,
can bring in more witnesses.
Forgot License-Fined.
Edward Honeyman, a West Main
street grocer, was fined 81 without
costs for neglecting to have his oper-
ator's license with him. He was ar
rested last night by Officer Charles
Grace. Honeynan pleaded guilty and
explained that as Yesterday was SO.
warm he left his coat off. His Ii
cense was in the pocket.
Had Enough OF Jail.
Fifteen days III Jail without costs
was the sentence melted OH. to James