Evening star., 1919-01-25
TERM
FOR TRAFF|CEV|[
Assistant Corporation coun.
sci Hart Scores Reckless
Operators of Autos.
FLAGRANT CASE IN COURT

The urgent and often-demonstrated
need for jail-sentence penalty for
reckless and dangerous automobile
driving, with no alternative of fine,
is pointed out by Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Ringgold Hart. Mr..
Hart's statement as to the necessity
for such legislation came after and
in connection with particularly
aggravated case of violation of the
traffic regulations. which Judge Har-
olson, in the Police Court, was able
to punish with fine only.
A law that will carry with it a
long fail or penitentiary sentence is
the only thing that will stop these
maniac drivers" according to Mr..
Hart. It will stop them, he says, and
that promptly. just as the Jail SEN
tence has lessened 'joyriding, and the
accompanying theft of motor cars.
Declared Indefensible Violation.
In the Police Court case in question
the defendant, it was proven. had
been operating his car in method
regardless not only of the public
safety but even of common sense. with
the result that he wrecked another
machine and seriously injured its op-
orator and owner. In passing sem
tence of a nominal fine-the best he
could do under the law, inasmuch as
it was first offense-Judge Hardi-
son declared this to be the most fla
grant and indefensible violation of
the traffic rules that had come to his
notice since he had been on the bench.
In these cases, no matter how fla
grant, the law provides a fine for the
first offense, and, at the courts dis
cretion, Jail sentence for subse-
Quent ohenSeS.
Boy Hit by Machine.
Melville Garrison. eleven years old,
residing with his parents at 3S09
Canal road northwest, while playing
on Canal road near his home yes
terday afternoon was struck by an
unidentified automobile carrying a
Virginia license tag and was slightly
injured. The boy was taken to his
home. He was injured about the
face and hands.
Ernest Garnett, co1ored, eleven
years old, living with his parents at
1918 11th street, while crossing the
street late yesterday afternoon at
9Th and F streets was struck and
automobile that failed to stop. One
of his ankles was severely sprained.
He was taken to the Freedmen's
Hospital and after. receiving medical
attention was taken to his home. The
police are making every effort to ap-
prehend the operator of the machine
that struck the child.
An automobile owned and operated
by Maj. D. Robinson, "a guest of the
Hotel Hamilton, collided late yester-
day afternoon at 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue with an east
bound Capital Traction Company car,
slightly damaging the automobile.
Maj. Robinson escaped injury.
Falls in Front of Car.
Late yesterday afternoon an auto
delivery wagon owned by the Star
Laundry Company, 1343 Orleans
street northwest. and operated by
Frank Brown. 1923 F street, collided
at 18th and II streets with car of
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company. Frank d. Warren, 1908
Pennsylvania avenue, who was on the
delivery auto, fell in front Of the NOV
ing car, receiving injuries to his head.
He refused hospital treatment and
was taken to his home.
An automobile owned and operated
by Frank Keller, I'll 18th street, early
last night collided with a car of the
Capital Traction Company at 14th
CONTINUED on Seventeenth Page.)