New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12
NOTES AT RANDOM

It will interest a great many motor
lists who have fallen foul of Otto
Payne, the motorcycle policeman down
in Nassau County, on Long Island, to
learn that a motorist is preparing TO
sue him for alleged false arrest and
malicious prosecution. The motorist
is Andrew Wilson, jr., vice-president
of the Seaberg Elevator Company, Of
Brooklyn. About six weeks ago VIII
son was driving down to Long Beach.
Between Valley Stream and Lynbrook,
on the Merrick Road, he came up be-
hind small car driven by man who
was being instructed in the art Of
driving. He wabbled all over the
road and Wilson turned out to pass
him. Down the road about 100 yards
distant was a large car coming the
other way. Out from in back Of IT..
Wilson says, came motorcycllst, who
waved Wilson 10 the side of the road,
ordering him to stop. The motorcy-
clist. who proved TO be Payne, gave
him a summons for violating the speed
laws and also "going out OF line
Four days later the matter came up
before Judge Norton at Bellmore.
Wilson and his father-in-law, Alex
Schwalbach, tried TO have the case
heard at once, but it was postponed for
twenty-seven days. When the case
came up again last Wednesday Keno
phon p. Hubby, together with others
ready to testify for Wilson, appeared
in court. Judge Norton is quoted as
saying there were too many witnesses
FOR the defence. Wilson's attorney OBJ
jected to further delay, and on his
motion the case was dismissed. The
party had 10 make two thirty-mile
trips down to Bellmore to this end.
Now Wilson plans to sue, and. what
is more, Huddy is going to take up the
case with the District Attorney Of
Nassau County, because he says 1T IS
no violation of the state motor vehicle
or highway laws TO do what the po
liceman and magistrates in Nassau
County charge as a crime "to turn out
Of line" The printed form of sum
mons contains this charge, and many
motorists have been fined for doing
so. All motorists who have had the
misfortune to fall foul of the motor
cycle squad in Nassau County will wish
Huddy luck in his attempt.
Just because a motorist puts
bumper on the front of his car it is no
guarantee that he will come off un-
scanned W0en ne runs lUlO any tHiilS.
The majority of bumpers we have seen
are rather fimsy affairs, and although
they do give the radiator some pro-
lection in the case Of a rear-end col
lison in traffic, they aren't much more
than ornaments to the car, at the best.
The other evening on Broadway AT
Fiftieth Street we saw a car bump the
rear end of one ahead. II wasn't much
of bump, but the bumper was bent
IN the middle and certainly helped 10
bend one of the spring horns. Bump
ers ought to be better than postage
stamps that is. good for use more
than once.
Applications for. 1917 number plates
already are in the hands of motorists,
and they should be filed with all pos
sible haste where folks are keeping
their cars for another season. The
plates have TO be on the cars after
February ]. 1917, the beginning of the
next automobile year. There are more
than 100000 car licenses in this state
now, and unless automobiles do some
thing TO help out the Secretary Of
States Office there will be an unusually
bad jam the last few weeks or so Of
January.
Plates for 1917 will be olive green,
with numerals in white, the same hy-
phenating of numbers of four places
apd ovar haipo dopa this Vpar