The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-08
VIEWS OF LAYMEN
The Speeding of Autos

Mankato, MIMI, April 2tTo The
Editor of The Free Press: The at
tached clipping from The Pipestone
Leader should have the attention of
speed maniacs in this city. Condi-
tons at the corner of Bryon and
Pleasant streets are a menace to the
$50 children attending the Lincoln
school. where many times a day
automobiles and trucks go up or
down the hill at from thirty to thirty.
five miles. The worst offenders are
the young drivers of delivery cars.
Just the other day saw q small
boy within three feet of being
knocked down by a speeding delivery
car.
In case of injury to child cross
ing the street I believe the city
might be held for heavy damages for
failure to enforce careful driving,
sidewalks In good repair. Certainly
the owner of the car as well as the
driver can be held for damages in
such event. The results might be
such that no money could make good
the injury.
Notice that this decision says
nothing about speed limits. The driv-
er is held responsible for unreason-
able speed even If the speed Is much
below the usual Is miles. This is as
It should be: The very nature of
| ment Of danger and the man using
! 1t does so at his own risk and must
+, not tmperil the life Of q child. who
has the right to cross the street and
even to run after bal. knocked out
into the highway.
recommend this matter to the
attention Of the officials and of par
ents.-Rsspectifully. F. j. Sperry.
The clipping referred to reads as
follows:
"The case of the State of Mime
| sofa, VS.. August Peterson Of Ihlen
which had been pending since the
18th Of March, was tried before the
municipal court on Monday. The
state appeared by Charles Dealy
! County Attorney. Morris Evans ap
peared as counsel for the defendant
The case was tried before the court
without jury.
Complaint charged that on the
18th day Of March, the defendant
drove a motor vehicle upon Frencf
street at a speed greater than Il
miles per hour or reasonable and
proper, having regard to the traffic
and use Of the street. At that date
the small son of E. +. Fields was run
over by DEFENDANTS car and quite
badly injured.
defendant drove the car at a speed
greater than Is miles per hour. tr
speed OF the car only in q genera
way, but the court held that 1t was
not necessary for the State to prove
that defendant was exceeding the Ii
mile limit, but that 1t must prove
that the defendant was driving the
car at speed greater than was rea
sonable and proper.
1.-THE evidence showed that at the
time when defendant was driving the
about 1880 P. M. many of the small
children were leaving the schoo
house and crossing the street. Under
such circumstances, the court helC
that the defendant should have alb
solute control of his car II necessary
at once. The court held and found the
defendant guilty as charged and h,
was fined 500 and costs, taxed IL
sum of $16.40 and in default OF pay
of 10 days was granted to enable
the defendant to perfect an appea
to the district court.
4 "A full report Of the case is pub
lished as motor car drivers have al
ways considered that if they KEEP
within the fifteen mile per houl
limit they had complied with the
conditions Of the law.
Under this ruling of the court, 4
good law, the auto driver may b.
held violating the speed laws, ever
though he might drive as low as {
or 10 miles per hour, depending
wholly on the traffic and use of The
street Especial care and the ut.
most vigilance must be used II
drivingsa car on the streets adjacent
TO the school house, especially wher
the children are going or coming
from school, states Judge Cady."