The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-30
IMPOSES ! |NE 5 AND HARD LABOR
Men Who Injured Pedestrian With Automobile Are Sen
 tenced By Court

Characterizing their conduct IS the most fragrant disregard of the safety of others, Judge Martin, Sat urday morning assessed a fine of $100 each and an additional sentence of six months hard labor against A. B. Pitts and A. B. Perry on charge of reckless driving.
 Pitts and Perry, with J. R. Harris, were alleged to have been driving car which struck and seriously in- jured H. T. Johnson at Thirty ninth street and First avenue, November "A. According to the testimony of wit nesses, the three men rounded the intersection of the streets at a high rate of speed, running upon the curb and striking MT. Johnson. To az gravate the case the men in the car are alleged to have driven away from the scene of the accident without giv- ing their names or offering assist ance to the injured man.
 Johnson was picked up by an ann bulance and taken to the hospital, where treatment was administered and two weeks later was returned to his home. Three days later the three men were placed under bond by Cole and Propst, city detectives, but owing to the condition of John son the case was postponed until Saturday. Johnson was assisted into the court room, still suffering from his injuries.
 J. R. Harris. the third member of the automobile party was fined $100 and given a hard labor sentence of 1S0 days. Notice of appeal was filed by Perry and bond was furnished. Pitts announced his intentions of ap- pealing, but al late hour Saturday night. was still in the city jail. No evidence was introduced at the trial to definitely affix the responsibility for the accident as it was not shown who was driving at the time.
 Judge Martin, in passing sentence on the three men, stated that it was one of the most fragrant cases tried bT him during the year out of more than 5000.
 other serious automobile accidents in Birmingham during the past fort night, many of which have resulted in deaths. Among the more severe cases are the following:
 John Edward Sawyer, negro, aged 3, struck by automobile on Red Noun tain road, December 19, died in- .stantly.
 William H. Wilson 20, 6524. Fourth avenue, north, in collision with street car at sixty sixth street and tlilI- man avenue, December IS, died at hospital, December q.
 Gilbert Lester. negro, struck by au- tomobile at Avenue c and Twenty eighth street, December 27. and died few hours later at hoapftal.
 Lewis Stevens, age 3. Cf 25o7 Thir- tieth avenue, north, struck by uniden tified person in automobile at Twen- ty-sixth street and Twenty ninth avenue, December 20. and died al hos pital. December 27.
 Mrs. S B. Smyers, 614 Cotton ave nue. struck by automobile at St. Charles street and Tuscaloosa avenue, seriously injured. returned home Christmas but still confined to bed.
 Sam Albert, 241S Avenue F, brakes would not hold, car overturned neal Magnolia Points, able to return home following day.
 Arthur D. Wilmington, age s, struck by automobile, December IS. a week in hospital.
 Mrs Zelia Ashcraft, 200 Sarah ave- nue, struck while boarding street car near home. Able to leave hos pital following day.
 ]. D. Nicely. Second street Sarah avenue, struck at same time with Mrs. Ashcraft also able to go home
 Ross Ledford, 19, Forty-ninth street and Tenth avenue, struck on First avenue and Twenty-sixth street, December 20, week in hospital.
 C. w Long of Atlanta, struck De- cember 24, at Fifth avenue and Twen- ty-fourth street. still in hospital.
 Florine Sims, age Il, of Woodlawn, thrown through wind shield in col fusion near Forest Hill cemetery, able to leave hospital following day.
 Edward Ludwig, age 8, of Gastonia, N. C., struck December 27 at Eighth avenue and Sixteenth street, reported improving in hospital.