Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1924-04-25
CITY COURT FINDS
MISS SMITH GUILTY
Imposes $500 Fine on Local
Woman For Reckless Driv-
ing
Conflicting Testimony Makes Case
Difficult One For Judge TO Decide

Difheult One For Judge TO Decide
Following a hearing Saturday fore
noon in the city court before Judge
Geissier. Miss Celia Smith was found
guilty Of the charge Of reckless driving
and was fined SOS and actual costs Of
81. Sentence was suspended for six
months, court therefore seeking to
collect only the 81 costs in the case
An appeal to the superior court was
taken from the Judgment rendered.
Miss Smiths father, Samuel Smith
was scheduled TO be tried Monday
morning in the city court on the
charge Of keeping liquor with intent
to sell So was Thomas Culley. who
faces similar charge. Both cases
were continued for one week. The
arrest Of Mr. Smith and Mr.. Culley
developed from raid on the City
hotel when the police found and seiz-
ed quantity Of liquor. Announce
ment was made some months ago
that Mr.. Culley had taken over the
ownership of the City hotel business.
succeeding Mr.. Smith as proprietor
of the place. Mr.. Smith continues
TO make his home there and he is the
owner Of the hotel building.
Call Three Witnesses
J In the city court Saturday morning
Prosecuting Attorney John F. Carpen.
ter called three witnesses TO prove
the states contention in the case in
volving Miss Smith. Sergeant of
Police Lizard and patrolman Ryan
testified that they waited on April 5
rear the East Putnam four corners.
for the Smith car to appear along the
Chepachet turnpike on its trip to Put
nam from Providence; that when the
Smith ear went by them they started
in pursuits that they followed it to
point this side of the Children's
Home. that the Smith car was operat-
ed at a speed varying between AZ
and IS miles an hour. the latter rate
being recorded az the intersection Of
roads at the Children's Home.
State Police Officer Keith stated
that he was a witness to the speed
Of the Smith ear at the time and he
gave it rs his opinion that when the
machine passed him il was making
IS miles an hour.
Miss Smith Testifies
!, To suhstantiate the arguments Of
the defense. Attorney Miron called
Miss Smith, her sister Miss Mollie.
her mother. Mrs. Samuel Smith and
Miss Celia Aframe All of these ladies
were occupants Of the Smith car at
the time of the alleged speeding cpl
sode. Miss Smith, the driver. testified
that she drove the car at rate of
speed not exceeding % miles an hour
at any time over the three mile stretch
involved in her case. Her testimony
was substantiated by that of the
other witnesses.
In summing up Mr.. Carpenter stat
ed that he believed that the proseeu
ton had established the fact that Miss
Smith had driven recklessly and he
asked that the defendant be found
guilty.
Attorney Miron argued that the
witnesses for the defense had proved
by their testimony that the Smith ear
had not been reeklessly driven and
had been well within the speed limits
prescribed by law.
Speeding Charge an Excuse
He declared that the arrest of Miss
Smith on the speeding charge was
simply as an excuse for holding her
and those with her in the car. while
the police could raid the City hotel.
The police. he said, thought that the
Smith car carried a load of booze
and had persued, stopped and search
ed ii with this belief as their incentive.
Failing to find the liquor, Mr.. Miron
argued, the police decided that they
could not allow the party 10 go Their
way, for they would probably com
mnnieate with the hotel and in this
way spoil the success Of the raid that
was made. Thus il was, he asserted.
that the reckless driving charge was
brought. Simply as an excuse to pre-
vent the party from notifying the
hotel"
Duty to Make Arrest
Mr.. Carpenter replied that the Off
GERS went out To stop the Smith car
with the intention of searching IL for
liquor and while engaged in this work,
found that Miss Smith drove reck-
lessly. II was the duty Of the officers,
Mr.. Carpenter asserted, when they
discovered violation of the law, To
take steps to secure the punishment
of the offender. This the officers ha
done, he affirmed, by arresting Miss
Smith on the charge filed against her.
Judge Geissler was frank TO admit
that the case was a difficult one TO de-
eide because Of the opposite nature
Of the testimony offered The Judge
said that he believed that the ladies
were mistaken about the rate of speed
at which the Smith car was driven.
He therefore found the defendant
guilty and imposed sentence as al
ready stated.
Samuel Smith went surety in the
sum of 500 when his daughter enter
ed an appeal.
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ATTAIN AVTC AN