Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-12

Ralph Brooks OF Redington street
Waterville, was found guilty Of
reckless driving by Judge Charles w.
Atchley in the Waterville municipal
court yesterday afternoon and sen
fenced to pay fine of 800 and costs,
to serve 80 days in Jail and so days
additional in default Of payment.
Brooks appealed and bonds in the
sum Of $500 were furnished for his
appearance at the September meet
| ing OF the superior court in Augusta.
Preparations for the hearing start
ed about 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing but the case was not opened I'M
til 3. From then until 6 o'clock nine
witnesses went onto the stand and
the two lawyers, F. Harold Dubord
for the State and Alfred A. Matthew
j! for the respondent. offered extended
, arguments. The judge rendered his
decision very promptly as soon as
the hearing closed.
Brooks pleaded not guilty to two
charges, reckless driving. and exceed
ing the legal speed limit for motor
vehicles. and when the case ended he
was sentenced on the reckless driv-
ing charge and the other one placed
on file.
Brooks was arrested Tuesday night
by Deputy Marshal Cimpson after
the respondent had collided with a
team on the Sidney road about three
miles from Waterville. The wagon
was occupied by Joel Ireland. driv-
ing. and his wife, Antonio Ireland.
The time of the accident according
to the witnesses for the State was
between 7.30 and o'clock, while the
witnesses for the defense consistent
ly contended chat the time was 8 10
or 8.15. Brooks was driving Hud-
son Super six touring car, 1917 or
i 1913 model, and was accompanied by
Henry and Robert Thibodeau and
Antonio Fecteau, all of Waterville.
All of the occupants of the car tes-
titled for the defense.
In behalf of the State the witnesses
were Mr.. Ireland. Charles Churc vi, II,
who saw the collision fronra di 'ance;
Albert Costley, who was driving a
Ford car which was parked short dis
| lance beyond and facing the place
where the ACCIDENT occurred: Aubrey l..
Tingley, VITO lives a short distance
| away from the scene Of the accident
and saw the Hudson go by just before
the trouble occurred. Deputy Marshal
George II. Simpson of the Waterville
| police department was the first wit
| ness for the State.
Deputy Marshal Simpson stated on
the stand that he was called by tele-
| phone at S25 Tuesday evening to the
scene of the accident. He stated that
| he measured the distance from the
place where he found the broken head
| light glass of the car. where the acct
dent occurred. to a place where the car
stopped and some of the wrcckaee OF
| the wagon was pulled from the under
| works OF the car where it had become
| wedged by the impact. He said the
| distance was 70 PAGES, or about 20O
| feet. When he made the measurements
.. the car had been run up farther and
turned around toward Waterville.
Mr.. ireland testified that he resided
on the Eight Rod road. He was driv-
| ing a single horse accompanied by his
wife In the wagon. He saw the auto
coming awful fast behind him. The
time was between 100 and o'clock.
He hurried to turn out as far as pos
sible and one wheel was in the often.
The car struck the wagon, demolishinG
1t. He could not say how far the auto
, went after that. Brooks told him that
he was not going over 35 miles an hour.
Mr.. Ireland stated that ne told Brooks
he was going so or 60 miles an hour.
In the cross-examination Mr.. Ireland
stated that he was going up slight
grade. He saw car coming from Au-
gusta with lights on. He left home
about z o'clock and vas on his way to
n neighbours on an GRAND. He had no
light of any kind on the team. lie
said II was Just about dusk. Mrs:
Ireland was lame and somewhat Ill
from the shock and unable to come to
the trial. Mr. Ireland was not injured
except for slight lameness In one
leg.
Charles Churchill took the stand
next. He was at John Dusty's farm
! near where the accident occurred. He
had been playing ball. He saw a
cloud Of dust and heard the crash.
He was 800 feet from the accident
but saw Mr.. Brooks car coming at a
rapid rate over the knoll back OF the
Ireland team. He knew Brooks was
driving fast because of the noise OF
the motor. He stated that he hur-
ried to the scene as he knew his sis
ter Mrs. Ireland was one OF the &C
cupants of the team. He helped ms
sister to the house and helped pun
the axle and spokes of the wagon
from under Brooks machine: was
Is or 20 minutes later when he cailed