The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-18
Public Discussion
CARD FROM MR.. GARRETT.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To The News scimitar.

-
To The News Scimitar;
While feel that where there is
possibility of one becoming party to
litigation OF any character he should
refrain from discussion Of the mat
ter In the press the wide publicity
given to the accident which occurred
last Tuesday evening. in which a car
that was being driven by me struck
young lady and the character of the
charges laid against me, which publica-
ton was evidently made only because
Of the fact that | happened to be in an
official position lead me to feel that
1t is my duty TO make public state
ment. | have no intention of going
into details as to the accident, which
l regret beyond all power of express
sion but | do wish to clearly and eX
pliCitly affirm that 1t was not an oc-
currence which in any of its aspects
involved the slightest misconduct on
my part,
The charges as published are. first,
driving without d. G. permit; second,
collision; third, driving while intoxi-
Gated
As for the first. | investigated when
| brought my car here from Tennessee
and was informed by the official au-
thorities that | was entitled to drive 1t
under the Tennessee tag alone, without
any D. c. tag or permit. This is still
my understanding.
As for the second. the collision oc-
CURED under conditions which rendered
Il absolutely unavoidable.
As to the third, | am absolutely sure
that its untruth will be demonstrated
ConclusiVely by testimony other than
my own. testimony Of persons wholly
disinterested. so that no doubt will re-
main In the minds of any person con-
no Vtltn haf cot
might be disregarded.
| feel sure that the nervous condi-
ton wrought by the shock of the acci-'
dent must have caused misapprehen-
sion on the part of some of the by
ISLANDERS, who jumped at this con-
clusion and initiated this charge. |
did not. myself, realize how severely
ii had affected me until after the in
jured lady had been placed in my car
and her friend had taken her place to
accompany her to hospital and start
ed to drive. | found after going
very short distance that my hands were
shaking SO that felt it unsafe for me
to undertake to go further l feared
that 1t might imperil both of the ladies'.
one of whom was evidently in great
pain. l was thoroughly unnerved,
though my solicitude was not for my
self but for the young lady, the extent
of whose injury was of course unknown
to me at that time.
On the evening in question the driv
ing conditions happened to be extremely
dangerous. Before l left the house
office building to go to my home a
misty rain began, which not only made
the asphalt streets slippery but rem
dered II difficult to see any consider
able distance ahead. AS a result
drove with extreme care and probably
occupied at least 20 minutes in going
distance Of about two miles from the
m nit the Mace where the Accl-
dent occurred, which drive was made
on the usual and nearest route from
my office to my home when travelling
in an automobile. am sure after
seeing the young lady in the path of
my car, | could have stopped it before
reaching her but for the fact that 1t
skidded on the wet street, but such
short distance that it did no go half a
cars Length beyond the point where it
collided with her.
l left my office in the house ottice
building shortly before pm, after
telephoning my wife that / was leaving
for supper. 1t 80 happened that the
last two gentlemen with whom l con-
ferred before leaving We're Represents.
tives Wingo of Arkansas and Flood OF
Virginia. the former Of whom | saw IN
his room and the latter in the corri-
dor. almost Immediately before going to
my car. Each of these gentlemen has
kindly sent to me copy of a letter
written voluntarily after reading in the
local papers of the accident, with the
privilege of publishing same. and ad-
vising that he will testify to the state
ments therein made under oath.
Other persons of responsibility who
saw me. both Immediately before and
Immediately after the unfortunate ac-
cident will testify to the same effect,
in complete confederation OF my. state
ment that any charge or inference
that was In the slightest degree un-
der the influence of any intoxicating
liquor is wholly false and without foun-
dalton.
In conclusion need not say how
greatly l deplore the accident, nor how
deeply l sympathize with the young
lady who was the victim of this unfor-
tunate accident, but who, fortunately,
understand is not so. seriously in
jured as it at first was feared.
FINS J. GARRETT.
(Note-Mr. Garrett inclosed copies of
letters from his colleagues referred to,
which fully and completely exonerate
him from the charge and sustain his
statement in every respectfully