Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-30
DEATH CAR DRIVER
HELD FOR MURDER;
ANTI-SPEED WAR ON
Many Arrests, Heavy Penal
ties and Relentless Prose-
cution Mark Campaign by
Officials and Public

Atlanta is up in arms against au-
tomobile speed fiends.
The tragic deaths of two women
and one man under the wheels of
three automobiles within the space
of thirty-six hours has stirred the
public and the officials of the coun-.
ty and city to a high pitch of in
dignation.
Numerous important developments
have followed the launching of the
war against reckless motorists who
make life perilous on Atlanta streets.
An indictment charging murder
was returned Tuesday by the Fulton
county grand jury against B. F. Nc
Donald, driver of the death scar that
killed Mrs Carobel Holley Smith Sat
urday night.
Indictments charging the same Of
Tense are being sought by Solicitor
John A. Boykin in eleven similar
cases, two of which involved the
deaths of Mrs Carrie May Merz and
Mr.. w. w. Moon Saturday night and
Monday. The grand jury will act in
these matters next Friday. A woman,
Mrs. o. T. Sullivan, and a man, Jo-
seph T. Mccall, are the defendants
in the two cases last mentioned.
Out Of tWenty-four speeding cases
tried before City Recorder George E.
Johnson Tuesday morning, twenty
were fined SIG each and four drivers
lost their licenses for thirty days.
Judge johnson announced that muck
heavier sentences, eliminating i,
prison sentences for the third Of
Tense, would be the rule hereafter
The establishment of an examining
board which will pass upon the fit
ness of amateur drivers has been rec
commended. The state Legislature
may be asked to enact measures pro-
viding for the examining board and
authorizing more drastic violations
for traffic violations.
An increase in the personnel of
the police department, representing
d cost OF some $4,000 a year, to-
gether with training scnool for
traffic officers, is proposed by traf-
fic committee of tie board OF police
commissioners.
Mayor James L. Key has called
upon the public to report and prose
ing that may have occurred where no
member Of the police force happened
to be stationed.
A volunteer brigade of Citizen
vigilantes," who will act constantly
as detectors of violations is strong
" advised from many. quarters The
Rotary club, the kiwaniS club, the
chamber of Commerce and other lead
ing civic organizations are taking
active part in the campaign. Prom
inent citizens and residents of all
classes are swamping the papers
with suggestions for remedying the
situation. ~
Police officers upon starting on
the, daily rounds are instructed to
look out for speed fiends. even at
the risk of negIectiag their other du-
ties. Conservative automobile driv.
ers, street car motormen and con-
ductors. |"'vers of other vehicles and
all other citizens are being urged to
help curb the epidemic OF disregard
for the law that has brought the
traffic problem to an acute stage.
Not all the blame is heaped upon
the motorists. 1t is declared that
pedestriaas. in large numbers con-
sistently disregard the rules of the
and putting the lives of autoists
jeopardy. Any person on foot who
wilfully winks at the regulations
gover1i'.- his Or her case stands a
chance for prosecution equal to that
of reckless driver.
It developed Tuesday that B. f
Mcdonald, held under $4,000 bond
for the killing of Mrs. Carobel Hol-
ley. Smith, of so East Harris street,
under the wheels of his automobile
on Sa turday night, has a sensation
al police and court record. He was
tried for the killing of o. B. Stevens.
Jr, on Auburn avenue some years
ago, was sentenced to a prison term
but carried his case to the higher
courts and secured a new trirl which
has never been held because of the
death of, two of the principal wit
nesses. Mcdonald also was involved
in the shooting of man named Nc
Intyre at road house near Atlanta
more than A year ago. This case
also IS pending on the superior court
lot