New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-27
w. L. Sheriff. Blames
Mitchel's Driver, Contra
diets Executives Story
FACTIONS TO MEET
IN COURT WEDNESDAY,
Motion Picture Magnate
Backed in Statement by
Three Witnesses

Says Mr. John Purroy Mltchei .
chauffeur to Mr.. William L. Sherrill's
chauffeur:
You're not telling the truth
And Mr.. William L. Sherrill's chauf-
feur says right back to Mr.. John Pur-
roy Mitchel's chauffeur:
you're not telling the truth
Thus far had the events growing out
Of the collision between the Mayors
and Mr.. Sherrills automobiles on Tues
Gay progressed up to last night. But
the big question that remained unan-
swered was what Mr.. John Purroy
Mitchell would say to Mr. William L.
Sheriff. when the two faced each other
in Magistrate Houses traffic court
Wednesday morning, each determined
to support under oath the assertion OF
his own chauffeur.
The whole case will revolye about
the simple question of whether Mayor
Mitchel's car ran into Mr.. SherrilPs or
whether Mr.. Sherrill's can ran into Mr.
Mitchels. If both sides adhere to the
statements they have already made to
Magistrate House will be assigned the
difficult task of determining whether
the testimony Of the Mayor OF New
York City is TO be accepted in prefer
ence to that of the president Of the
Frohmsn Amusement Company.
Contradictory Statements
So far there is no opportunity for
IL he .Tto M nf
testant. The Mayor in a formal state
ment Thursday said:
eve were going uptown on the cas-
side of Sixth Avenue. when at Fifty
seventh Street my chauffeur turned out
and signalled that he was about TO
make the turn. There was car coming
behind US at the rate of from forty TO
fOrty-fve miles an hour, and 1t crashed
into the mudguard on our car
To The Tribune yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Sheriff. said:
at was the Mayors car that struck
my machine. We we're driving up Sixth
Avenue at a moderate rate of speed
nothing like so fast as forty to forty
five miles an hour-when another auto
mobile suddenly swung into view on
our right. We believed the car had
darted out of Fifty-seven Street, but,
Of course, will not dispute the Mayors
statement that he was coming up Sixth
Avenue just as we we're.
"Dowd, my chauffeur, brought our car
10 a dead standstill two and one-hait
lengths above the scene of the accident
something that would have been I'M
possible if we had been exceeding the
speed limit We turned about and
coasted back to where the Mayors car
stood. I intended, of course, to have
the chauffeur arrested.
Imagine my surprise when ! saw
the Mayor standing in the street and
heard him saying TO a policeman. Take
this chauffeur Dowd to jail
"The policeman evidently realized
that he had been given a pretty big
order, and Immediately demanded the
identity Of the complainant. If heard
correctly. Mr.. Mitchell replied: ! dc
mand this as the Mayor of New York
City
"Mr. Mitchell then started back to his
automobile, but before he had stepped
in. turned about and said to the police
man: You don't need to take that man
to Jail. Just give him summons 70
appear in traffic court
Fighting for Taxpayers
81 consider it rather unusual that
when Dowd appeared in court yester-
day one Of the court officers took him
of to one side and advised him, in
view OF the position of the complain
ant TO plead guilty. What | am de
termined to establish is the fact that
the taxpayers in this city have their
rights on the streets just as the city
officials have"
Mr.. Sherrill's statement was strong
~ supported yesterday afternoon by
j. II. Schwartz, of the Art Dramas
Company, who told exactly the same
story to The Tribune. Mr.. Schwartz
was sitting with Dowd in the front
seat Of the Sheriff. car and had ample
opportunity to witness the accident.
He declares that the Mayors car
crashed into the Sheriff. auto, and that
at no time did Dowd try to pass Mr..
MitchePs car, as was stated at City
Hall.
Mr.. Sherrill's version of the accident
will also be supported in court by II.
VI. Goetz, secretary of the Photograph
Company, and E. A. Fineman, of the
Frohman company, both o. whom were
in the Sheriff. car. Mayor Mitchell, If
be chooses to call witnesses. can place
on the stand Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. ". X.
Vanderbilt, Mrs. Joseph Thomas and
Public Service Commissioner Hayward,
who were passengers in his car.