Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-07-10
SILENT POLICEMEN
MUST Be PROTECTED
STATES THE COURT
Auto Drivers Must Go to Right
of Spindle and Avoid Trouble
They Are Hailed into Court
Monday and Made to Pay Fine
BY Way of Variety Charles
Obey Is Convicted in Liquor
Case

The silent policeman must be pro-
tected." said Judge Lancaster yesterday
afternoon, after he had disposed of
more cases which grew out of the viola
tion of the traffic law than had come be-
fore the court in single day since the
law WENT into effect. These policemen
are placed in position about the city
streets in accordance with the law and
for a purpose. and the sooner that
drivers of automobiles learn to pass
them on the proper side, which Is the
right. the better it will be for them"
The right side is the proper one on
which to pass the silent policeman. and
failure to do this was what brought two
Augusta citizens into court Monday, as
we'll as two from other places, although
ii should be said that one case was not
heard because Of the forfeiture OF the
bond by one Of the respondents. This
was one. Joseph Connolly of Dexter.
Mr.. Connolly was arrested by the City
Marshal for driving his automobile on
the left side Of the spindle at the top
of Rines hill. Connolly, who had two
ladies with him, was taken over to City
hall and put up~cash bail of $40 with
Judge Lancaster of the municipal court
for his appearance before the court on
Monday morning. When the court open
ed Monday morning however. Mr.. Con-
nelly did not put in an appearance. nor
did he for the day, and it is presumed
that the green fields of Dexter have
more attraction for him than those OF
Augusta just at present.
But though the case Of Mr. Connolly
won't up in the air, so to speak, there
were others of similar nature to take
it's place. and the first one called was
that of Ernest Piper of Waterville.
Ernest had troubles with the silent po-
licemen on Rines hill, and the cause OF
his troubles was that he forgot. or did
not think, or did not care which was
the right way TO pass the spindle, so he
went to the left. And as soon as he did
that he was pounced upon and arrested.
He did not have a real good excuse for
his action in sending his car to the left
instead Of the right of the spindle. and
when it was all over he had been found
guilty and was by the court visited with
fine of $40 and costs and was allowed
to go back to his home in Waterville
upon promising to send down the
amount of his fine and costs today.
Two other automobile cases concluded
the list of that type for the day and were
productive of the similar results to those
of the case above mentioned. The first
Augusta citizen in the Monday morning
roundup was Norman L. Bassett and
the scene of his troubles was Rines hill.
Mr.. Bassett with his car and accompanied
by his chauffeur Morris Appleton. was
going up the Hill in company with num-
ber of other cars and, according to the
l.; ha nv
was a little slow for his car so as he
approached the spindle he took a chance
and lodged around to the left of it. But
the eagle eyesof City Marshal Tyler was
on him and he was held up. The matter
was talked over at some length and the
decision finally reached was that Mr..
Bassett pay to the court the costs, which
were s262 which was done and the Incl
dent was closed.
Following the Bassett case William B.
Williamson claimed the attention of tho
court for a little while. All OF the spin
die troubles occur on Rines hill. and that
was where William had his. The scene
was the spindle half way up the hill and
William was coming down in his car yes
terday morning to bring a party to the
30 Tram LOT lne east IHeTe "dS d team
and several cars ahead Of him and the
others stopped, apparently without giving
the usual signal. and he being so near
that he could not see the team ahead OF
the other cars, so he claimed, he pulled
out to the left of the spindle. Charles
Brooks. who was in a car Just ahead Of
the Williamson car entered a complaint
against Mr. Williamson, with the result
that the latter appeared in court. The
matter was talked over with the court
and the plea entered by Mr. Williamson
was that of not guilty, but the court ruled
otherwise and imposed sentence OF s5e2
Other matters for the day was the case
of Charles Obey. at whose place on Mt
Vernon avenue the sheriffs took a little
liquor Saturday night. Obey was arraign.
ed on a charge of search and seizure and
by advice of his attorney. F. L. Dutton,
the hearing Obey was found guilty and
was given a sentence Of 500 and costs
and 60 days in Jail, and in default Of pay
ment of fine and costs 80 days additional
from which an appeal was taken and
bonds furnished in the sum of $500 for his
appearance at the September term OF
court.
One case OF intoxcation was disposed Of
by the court ordering the respondent to
pay $40 and costs.
Lucy L. Hovey