Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-04
NO FINDING ANNOUNCED,
Coroner Bill Not Ready to Express
Verdict in Motorcycle Fatality Case.

| Coroner A G. Bills finding in the
| death of WASHES T. Tsakonas fatally
| injured in the motorcycle accident on
| the West Side Monday morning is not
| likely to be given out this week. as his
| stenographer's notes had not been
completely Transcribed Thursday Cor
oner Bill will review these very care
fully before making his finding, which
will be of special interest owing to the
circumstances surrounding the case
Much stress has been laid in pub
| lie comment on the claim of the pro-
motors of the MOTORCYCLE races that
| they were given permission by the Sc
lectmen of Brooklyn to run off the
events. though it so happened that A.
j. Kenehan, the rider who figured in
the accident that cost the lofe of the
Tsakonas boy, was not racing at the
time of the occurrence. The pernis-
sion to hold the races that it is claim
ed was granted by the seIectmen of
Brooklyn, in which town the accident
occurred, in conjunction with similar
permission from selectmen of other
towns in the territory through which
the races were to be run has been
taken by many to fix responsibility and
liability upon the town of Brooklyn
through the alleged act of its agents
the selectmen
This claim was ridiculed by num-
Der OF attorneys who were asked to
express an opinion on the point, they
lIlttI even the SeloctInen did
grant permission for the races in a
public highway they were exceeding
their authority as agents of the town;
that as one attorney put it, the Sc
lectmen of any town have no more
right to authorize mortocycle races in
the public highway and by that act
exempt those who participte in them
from responsibility for what might oc-
cur than they would have to license a
man to commit arson. This attorney,
one of the best known in the county
says the town of Brooklyn is not liza
bic for any damages that may be
sought.
On the other hand, another attor-
ney points out that even through the
selectmen of Brooklyn did grant per-
mission for the races, this fact did not
set aside the laws of the state govern
ing the operation of motor vehicles in
public highways; that all of the laws
relative to fast and reckless driving
the exercise of care and due caution
were Just as much in force on the
stretch of highway where the speed
events We're to be run off as at any
other time and that an accident occur
ing thereon at racing time would be
considered solely on its merits the
same as in the case of a similar acct
dent occurring at any other time.
Viewed apart from the race aspect
surrounding the case, through Kena-
han by the time was not riding in any
race event, The death of the Tsakon-
as boy, one attorney points out. may
be regarded as would be another SINH
lar accident.
Another interesting point raised in
the discussion is that Kenehan GER
tainly would not have been where he
was when the accident occurred I'M
less races arranged to be held there
had attracted him from Providence
and that he felt, under the circum-
stances he was safe and within the
law in riding rapidly along the race
course-m mapped out, his speed, about
which there was a wide divergence of
opinion at the inquest, being under
the conditions matter of secondary
consideration.
All who have considered the case
are not inclined to severely CRITICS.
such officials of the town of BROOKLYN
as may have granted the alleged per
mission to hold the races. Arrange
ments for other like races in a number
of WindhaIn County towns have been
made before Fortunately on such oc-
casfons no accidents occurred No
objections We're made to the granting
of the so-called permissions, nor was
any made on this occasion following
the time of the announcement of the
races. There was not a word of pro-
test.