Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-22
STIFF PENALTY FOR OAKLAND MAN FOUND
GUILTY RECKLESS DRIVING; SHARP CLASHES
BETWEEN COUNSEL AND STATES WITNESSES

Finding Herbert L. Hopkins of
Oakland guilty on a charge of reck-
less operation Of an automobile
Judge Robert A. Cony in municipal
court Monday morning, pronounced
the stinest sentence Of the present
season for infringement of the mo-
tor vehicle laws. Hopkins was or
dered to pay a fine of SIS and costs
OK 20 or to serve 30 days in the
county jail. Through his attorney,
Hon. John w. Nelson, Mr.. Hopkins
took an appeal to the superior Court
and furnished bail in the sum of
500 for his appearance at the Sep
TENDER term.
In pronouncing sentence after
hearing the evidence of the the sew
eral witnesses for the State and for
the defense, Judge Cony took occa-
sion to remark that the Monday
morning news accounts of fatalities
due to reckless driving were in his
mind as he named the penalty in the
Hopkins case.
The case yesterday morning was
the result Of an accident at Read
field Depot about o'clock Satur-
day evening, in which q Hudson
speedster owned and operated by
Ray Beaudoin of Manchester, N. H,
who last year was a member OF the
Augusta Millionaire baseball team,
driven by Mr.. Hopkins. The iden-
tity Of the owner of the Dodge car
was traced through the registration
| number and the file in the office of
City Marshal Skehan, and Hopkins
was arrested at camp at Vienna
Mountain about $50 Saturday even
ing by Deputy Sheriff Willis A. Pink
ham and brought to this city, where
he obtained bail for his appearance
in municipal court Monday morn
ing.
Beaudoin Made Complaint
As result of the two cars COM
Ing together. Beaudoin's machine
was ditched and the right front
wheel was crushed besides other
sundry damage. Mr.. Beaudoin swore
out the warrant against Hopkins.
| The case for the State was con-
Quoted by County Attorney Walter
NJ, Sanborn, with Attorney John Z.
Nelson appearing for the respond
ent.
After the testimony OF the deputy
sheriff who made the arrest and of
| Mr.. Beaudoin and Miss Hazel Weeks
, of Rochester N. H., who was riding
with him at the time of the accident.
|
who saw the collision were exam
ined on the stand and proved to be
! the star witnesses for the State.
Mr.. Beaudoin alleged that he had
turned far out on the right side Of
the road to allow the Hopkins car to
pass, and that the latter In passing
at high rate of speed, sideswiped
his machine, ditching him. and then
drove on without stopping to learn
the damage he had caused. He also
testified that later when questioned,
istry number of his car. This testi-
mony was substantiated by Miss
Weeks.
Woman Star Witness for State
! Mrs. Minnie McKenna injected
considerable lively interest into the
hearing when she took the stand for
the State. Mrs. McKenna was pro-
ceeding along the highway where
the accident occurred and was di-
rectly opposite the two cars when
they crashed. Mrs. McKenna re-
fused to be led by the questions of
tho defense attorney and insisted on
interpolating remarks OF her own,
which were not only highly original
but were particularly pertinent to
the case and her judgment of the
rights and wrongs OF the matter.
Outwits Defense Counsel
Mrs. McKenna proved That she
had a mind of her own and was en-
tirely successful in stating 1t in spite
OF the efforts of the examining attor-
neyS to restrict her to answering only
the questions which he propounded
At one stage of the cross examina
ton. Attorney Nelson asked her II the
road at the point where the accident
occurred was wide enough for two
cars to pass.
"Oh yes" replied the witness
But"
"Just a minute" interrupted Attor-
ney Nelson" just answer the Ques-
| ton"