The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1920-08-13
ESCAPES PUNISHMENT
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY WAS GIVEN
WATTS, WHOSE CAR WAS SUPPOSED
CAUSED INJURY TO MISSES 6EIMAH
AND DEGERHARD.


On July 25 last Misses Rose and May
Geiman, residing near this city, and
Miss Mary Degenhard. Of Baltimore,
were walking on College Hill, coming
toward this city. When about opposite
DR.. McDaniePs residence they were
alarmed BY three automobiles coming
up the hill behind them from the
West The second car of the three bore
the Maryland license number 77-086s
and it was learned that the owner
of this car is DR.. Frank w. Watts.
a druggist, of Baltimore. A warrant
was issued charging DR.. Watts with
reckless driving, and he was tried
before Police Justice Walsh on Mon
day afternoon last. The witnesses
for the State were the Misses Geinnan,
Miss Degenhard and Mr.. Wesley Cook,
Of Warfeldsburg. The ladies testified
that as the leading car of the three
passed them, the second car UNDER
took to run around the first car, and
forced them into the side ditch; that
Miss Rose Geiman and Miss Degenz
hard fell, the former sustained bruis-
es and the latter had her left arm
broken; that the second car did not
stop until it had passed them; that it
did stop, but no one came from it to
inquire if they were injured. Mr..
Cook, however, who was driving the
third car, testified that none Of the
cars were moving rapidly; that he
was driving at the speed of about 1E
miles an hour, and that the second
car, 77-0S8, was moving at about the
same speed; that he was following
Immediately behind car 77-0SS; that
this car suddenly stopped. the wheels
sliding a. short distance: that to avoid
running into it, be turned his car in
to the bank to the side of the road;
that he then saw the ladies for the
first time; that man got out of
77-088 and talked to the ladies' By
DR.. Watts it was proved that he is
the owner of the car, but was not with
it on the day In question: that on
that day it was In the possession OF
his niece, the wife Of DR.. Livus Lank-
ford. of Baltimore. Dr. Watts was
found not guilty, and a warrant at
once issued for the arrest OF Mrs.
Lankford charging her win rec1-
less driving and with failing to stop
to make inquiry or render assistance
and the trial was had immediately.
The State submitted its case on the
proof already offered in the Watts
case Mrs Lankford testified that
she was driving her uncle's ear, and
that her husband was with her in the
front seat, and his brother, Mr. Hen
ry Lankford with young lady in the
rear seat; that she did not attempt
to pass the first car, but as she ap-
preached it from the rear found St
la
she had to turn to the left to avoid
running into it; that she saw the
young ladies walking on the road and
having complete control OF her car
stopped it in a few feet, about cars
length from the young ladies. She
was corroborated by her husband, DR..
Lankford, and his brother, Mr.. Henry
Lankford, and all three testified that
DR.. Lankford got out of their car
and asked the young ladies If they
were hurt and offered to take them
home, and that she then moved her car
to the right hand side OF the road and
remained there few minutes talking
of the occurrence, and then ran on to
Baltimore. The Misses Geirnan and
Miss Degenhard testified that a man
got out of one of the cars, they thought
from the first car, approached them
and offered assistance, and did not
recognize DR.. Lankford as the man.
Mr.. Cook testified that the first car
did not stop at all, and that the man
who spoke to the young ladies got out
of the second car, but could not iden-
tify DR.. Landlord as the man. Mr..
WalshI rendered a finding Of not gull
ty on both charges. The State was
represented by States Attorney
Brown and Judge Jos. Hanson, OF
Baltimore, while Mr. Smith, of the
Baltimore Bar, appeared for the ac-
cused.