Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-19
Driver OF AUTOMOBILE IN
FATAL ACCIDENT SUNDAY EVE,
FINED FOR RECKLESS DRIVING

Following two days Of investiga-
ton into the circumstances of the
fatal accident on Bangor street, Sun
day evening, when Mildred Slower,
16 years old, was struck and killed by
an automobile operated by Raymond
Gidney of Pine street. this city, the
young man was arraigned in munich
pal court Tuesday morning before
Judge Robert A. Cony. charged with
reckless driving. After hearing the
evidence in the case, Judge Cony
found the respondent guilty and pro-
Eounced sentence of a 1ne of $50 and
costs. which We're paid.
County Attorney rSanborn. who
prosecuted the case for the state, In
Dictated that there was n possibility
that some further criminal proceed
inSs might be Instituted against the
young man, and 1t was also report
ed yesterday that the accident would
probably result in civil suit.
Young Gidney was represented by
Attorney Robert r. Williamson ana
when arrafSned waived reading Of
the warrant and entered q plea of
not guilty.
Herbert Cunningham. from whose
automobile the unfortunate girl had
! just alighted when struck by the
Gidney sedan, was the first witness
called for the state and testified that
Sunday evening he had driven in his
Ford car to the corner of Bridge and
Water streets to carry Miss Slower.
Mrs. Dockham and Mrs. Gordon
| home from the evening services at
the Salvation Army hall. When they
reached the Slower home on Bangor
linn l.,. 40 l.
machine on the right side OF the
highway off the macadam on the car
tracks and Mrs. Gordon got out on
the right side and Miss Slower on
the left side. The witness testified
that the lights Of the oncoming auto
mobile could be seen some distance
| up the road and that one of the oc
cupants OF his car said TO the Slower
girl. Look out for the automobile"
Mr.. Cunningham started his ma
chine. crossed the road into n drive
way and went to the place where the
limp body lay in the highway some
thirty yards from the spot where she
Ind been struck. The Gidney ma =
chine was some little distance fur
Their and had turned over onto the
car tracks. Mr.. Cunningham said
that it had been raining and that the
roadway was slippery. but that rain
had ceased falling some few minutes
before the accident occurred.
City Marshal w. J. Skehan testi-
| fed to investigating the scene of the
accident shortly after 1t occurred and
OF making measurements which
! showed that the Slower girls body
was carried 100 feet after the Gidney
| car struck her, and that the machine
had gone so feet further before 1t
a. ,Cf IN %-,. A,,, ~
breaking n wheel and overturning.
/ The wrecked car was headed back
toward Waterville the direction from
which II came. Both of the officers
testified that the road was in slip
! perry condition when they Investigate.
ed the accident. Officer Frost testi-
fed that the respondent told him that
he had been driving about % miles
an hour.
/ Raphael Arbour of Augusta was the
only witness called by the defence,
Mr.. Arbour testified that he had been
/ following the Gidney machine for a
| distance of about mile before the ac-
! cident occurred and that according to
his own speedometer both cars were
proceeding about % to Is miles per
| hour. The witness testified that he
was about 100 yards behind the Gid
| ney car when it struck the Slower
girl and that he had Immediately ap-
piled his brakes gently and brought
| his machine to stop some 100 feet
north Of where the girl had started to
cross the road to her home.
In summing up the evidence and ar
guing the case, County Attorney San
! born called attention that 10 miles per
hour was the legal rate of speed at the
place where the accident occurred ana
that under the dangerous road condi-
lions Of last Sunday evening the re-
spondent was further guilty or reck-