Evening star., 1922-12-21
MAY TEST POLICE
RIGHT TO SPEED
Crash in Pursuit of Bootleg.
ger Will Be Aired in Court
Tomorrow.
VICTIM IS SUMMONED
Holman Says He Was Hurt
Through Recklessness at 18th
and C Streets.
VICTIM IS SUMMONED

"A test case 10 Qetefmlne tne Spceu
at which prohibition and police Of
fcers may be justified in driving their
! motor cycles and automobiles in chase
of fleeing bootleggers may develop
at a preliminary hearing tomorrow
| morning. at Police Court on the col
! lision last Saturday at 11th and c
streets Of a sedan operated by Her
bert P. Holman of the bureau Of
chemistry of the Department Of Asricul-
ture and a high-powered roadster
occupied by revenue men and police
men. Holman, who happened to be
in the path of the police car, was
injured and his machine badly dam
aged.
Holman and the officers have been
summoned TO appear In the ofi1ce OF
the corporation counsel at the Police
Court at 1890 o'clock, Friday morn
ing, together with number OF wit
nesses. at which time 1t will be de-
termined II there was cuipability on
the part of any one in connection
with the smash up. Should 1t be
found that either Holman or. the Of
ficers violated ahy regulation and was
responsible for the accident. war
rant for the arrest of the guilty party
will be issued, 1t was said.
Customary Procedure.
1T was emphasized that the pre-
liminary hearing called for tomorrow
any one was to blame. but Is merely
the customary procedure followed In
all collision cases 1t was learned.
however, that in order to have
basis for the hearing. technical
charge Of falling to give right OF way
He was requested by telephone to be
present at the hearing. 1t was pointed
out, no warrant being issued against
him nor collateral or bond being re-
quired OF him.
"I consider 1 had a miraculous es-
CAPE" Mr.. Holman declared today.
probably II l had been killed. as !
feel l would II the revenue car had
struck the front end Of my sedan.
instead of the back. such sentiment
would have been aroused that this
reckless chasing through the streets
would have been ended"
still wearing his right hand In
bandage, cuts over the right eye ana
the left ear. Mr.. Holman said that
parked cars on both sides Of 11th
see the pursuing car or the other.
"As approached the corner Of 18th
and C streets that afternoon. going
west on E. street. on my way back
to the bureau OF chemistry, L he2rO
the continuous sound of an automo-
bile horn" Mr.. Holman said. II
couldn't tell from what direction IT
came. being in closed sedan.
II at first thought of the fire de-
partment and slowed up, intending to
pull into the curb. but the curb was
lined with automobiles parked behind
the President Theater. I saw at that
moment a closed car shoot across the
street at great speed:
"I concluded It was this car that
was making the noise. just the or
dinary automobile horn noise. l
could see no other car approaching
on account of the solid lines of park
ed cars on 11th street.
when 1 got clear Of the cars. 7
saw the revenue car. without top.
coming at tremendous speed. I saw
1t couldn't miss me, and put my foot
on the accelerator. and tried to- get
out of his way. = - =
after the accident. Ralph Ruby,
the driver of this car that struck
mine. calls out. "Why didn't you look
where you were going?'' don't re-
member what I said,' shock ed ~ J.
was. and covered with blood. but later
! remember I asked him why he didn't
use a little judgment in drtyinx
through the streets endailgerinS life.
His reply was, Tell that - Gsns
.Mr Holman. who lives tar SOLO ;51sth
street. has been an, employe. Fof the.
Department OF AgricAltuF6 since
1908. He was born -Vincennes,
Ind, and was Rraduatkd from The Uni.
.xersity of Indiana I'm 1903.