Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-09-22
Careless on Number Plates - West
Townshend Minister Drives Team
Without Lights and Is Fined Also.

Another grist of automobile cases was |
heard in the municipal court last Mon
day before Judge f. ID. II. Stowe. Most |
of them were the result of an investiga |
Inspector Griggs of the state depart
ment.
The first offender was Frank Stone,
80, of Halifax. who was charged with
operating an automobile with number
plates that were not assigned by the
secretary of state. 1t is alleged that
Stone formerly owned an Oakland car,
the number plates of which he trans
ferred to an Essex car which he bought
recently. Stone told Inspector Griggs
that he had to make quick trip down
into Massachusetts, which was the rea-
son why he used the number plates be-
fore the car had been registered. The
inspector was somewhat at a loss to un-
derstand why this particular car had to
be used, as there were four other cars
in Stones garage that were available.
Judge Stowe fined him $50 and costs
amounting to $50.
r. j. Wheeler, also of Halifax, a
teamster, was charged with operating
an automobile that was not registered.
Wheeler works for Stone and recently
bought an old car and proceeded to run
it without registering it. lie said he
didn't know whether the car would run
or not, so thought he would try it out
before he secured plates. If the car
ran all right, he planned to have it reg;
istered. The court fined him $40 and
costs amounting to SO.
Il. f.. Aldrich of the same town, a
chauffeur, was arraigned on similar
charge. Aldrich secured a car from
Stone by swapping Il COW for 1t. lie did
not register the car because he did not
have the money, he said, so he took the
plates from another car. 1t was eX-
,,Io IN hn that A l1rirh has
several children and is in unfortunate
financial circumstances and on account
of these facts he was fined 50 and costs
amounting to SO.
The fourth offender from Halifax was
Belmont Hicks, who gave his occupa-
Griggs was leaving that town after his
strenuous days work of investigation,
a car without lights attempted to pass
him. The car was stopped and it was
found that Hicks was operating 1t
without having had it registered. He
was fined 50 and costs amounting to
SIS.
Rev. George Damon of West Town
shend was charged with driving horse
and carriage after shutdown without
carrying light and upon pleading
guilty he was fined 81 and costs amount
ing to $500. Rev. Mr.. Damon was driv
ing on the road between Wardsboro and
East Jamaica when he was run into by
Il car driven by Melvin Bills a stage
driver of Wardsboro whose car was also
without lights. The accident happened
on the night of Aug. 26. The force of
the collision threw Mr.. Damon and
daughter out of the carriage, three of
whose wheels We're knocked off. and
Mr.. Damon slightly injured. The acct
dent was not reported to the secretary
of state. it being the belief of both gen
temen that such action was not neces-
sary. The case was recently Investigated
by Inspector Griggs and both Mr.. Damon
and Mr.. Bills appeared in court Monday.
In view of the fact that Bills is a young
man and did not run away, after the
accident happened. the court let him off
with $50 and costs, amounting to $1,000.
which was paid.
p Joseph F. Arel. %. of Day avenue,
Northampton. Mass, was in court and
pleaded nolo to charge of careless and
negligent driving. Last Saturday, he
was driving southerly on Canal street,
when he collided with a car driven by
Frank Dunklee, who was coming out of
Brge street. Dunklee had the right of
way and was crossing Canal to go up
Washington street when Arel in trying
to keep out of his way. swerved to the
left and ran into him. Chief of Police
George Wilson happened to be coming
out of his house and saw the accident
and took the gentleman in tow. Arel
gave Chief Wilson 800 bail as surety
for his appearance in court here Mon
day. The damage to Mr.. Dunklees car
was settled by the respondent privately.
Arel was fined $50 and costs amounting
to go, which he paid.
William Rabideaux of Q Hunt ave-
nue.. Brattleboro. who was in collision
with a motorcycle several days ago,
pleaded not guilty to a charge of reck.
less driving. His case was continued
to later date not yet decided upon for
trial. His bail was fixed in the sum of
nelia Belleair. He was represented by
Attorney Neil D. Clawson.
The case against l.. s. Rawson for
reckless driving which has been pend
ing for some time, was definitely set for
Friday, Sept. %.
A hearing was given in the case OF
the state against William Babcock of
Putney, who appeared on contempt
writ, having failed to appear in court
several days ago. The case is the out
come of alleged negligence to support
and give proper care to his daughter
Lettie. aged 10. The circumstances
have been investigated by Miss Harriet
Children ~ Aid society. Babcock is a
Sunday school teacher and claimed
through his attorney, O. b. Hughes, that
the case was the outcome of religious
and community warfare. The states at
torney claimed that conditions regard
ing the young girl were deplorable. Last
winter, 1t is alleged. the girl was sent
to school without any lunch and in one
instance, she had no dress to wear. her
undergarments having been covered up
with an overcoat. Miss Abbott also
found that the girl was not only doing
the housework and washing but was
also doing the milking of the cows. 1t
is further alleged that the child was not
given Il bath during the whole of the
winter and when this operation was
performed by kindly neghbors. the
childs clothing was found to be in n
filthy condition. The state contended
that the child should be sent to school
to Mortified and the father made to
contribute 81 per week toward her sup
port. The defense asked for a leeway
of two days to make arrangements for
the support of the child in a private
family here in BrattlebOro, The de-
Tense stated that Babcock wanted to see
the girl taken care of properly out of
the goodness of his heart.
The state contehded that this goodness
of heart must be a symptom which has
only recently developed.
hn lat