New Britain herald., 1924-09-08
DRIVING LESSON
 COSTS HIM sI00
Police Appear Just as Novice
 Tries Hand at Wheel

A lesson on how to operate an automobile cost Joseph Egan slO0 and suspended jail sentence of l5 i days.
 Egan, who lives at 6G Bonner street, Hartford. was arrested on Stanley street Sunday morning and charged with operating an automo- | bile while under the influence of 1 liquor, After Policemen Crowley and Jones had pursued the car and oyrrhaulcd it, Egan changed seats with another person in the car The latter had an operators license and was sober,
 In Judge filings court this morning Egan said he got behind tho wheel when his companion of- fercd 10 give him lesson in driy- ing He said he didn't stop at once because he did not hear the police call to him, and anyway, he didn't know how 10 stop. Three others were in the machine it was tes- tified.
 According 10 the story told hy the policemen, they were stanling near tle railroad crossing on Stan ley street when an automobile across the tracks attracted their attention as the driver seemed to have trouble starting it. It finally started and proceeded along the street at slow rate of speed, cling ing 10 the curbing. They called to the driver ot stop, and getting no response, started in pursuit. They overlook the machine as it was stopping above Seymour street, and told the court that just as they ar rived Egan was changing seats with 1 his friend. Egan admitted having tried to operate the car and was placed under arrest.
 Attorney Harry Ginsburg repre- sented the defendant and told the court that inasmuch as 1t was the other fellow who had the operators license and who was responsible for l the operation of the machine, he felt that he was the one to be held and not Egan.
 Another Is Continued.
 Robert Bergoron, of 176 West street, charged with operating a mo- tor vehicle while under the influence Of liquor while his license was under suspension, had his case continued until October is. under the care Of l the probation officer The court warned him that if he learned that the defendant has had as much as ono drink of liquor in the mean time he would go to jail. Bergeron was arrested after Policeman Thom- as F. Feency and Thomas C. Dolan investigated q complaint by Rudolph | Waters of Nliddletown that a ma chine had backed into his car while he was travelling on South Main street near St. Josephs church. It was the second time that Bergeron was arrested for drying while his li- cense was under suspension, a sus- I pended sentence of 90 days being imposed at his last appearance about two months ago.
 According to the story told by the police, Waters made complaint that 8 machine had collided with his on South Main street and they went out to investigate, They located Bergeron at a Maple street house and he admitted that he had driven the machine and was in the accident. He became abusive and used vile language when placed nndcr arrest, according to the police. He was
 drunk when brought to the police station, they testified.
 Atty. Harry Ginsberg entered pleas of nolo contendere for the de- fendant and told the court that Ser geron had a wife and four children to support and that if he were sent away, it would be imposing hard
 ship upon them.
 Must Round Up Friends.
 John Peterson of Dwight street was discharged oh charge of eVad- ing responsibility and a charge Of operating under the influence oi
 liquor was continued until Saturday
 10 give him an opportunity to pro-
 duce witnesses in court to substanti' l ate story he told the court. H. 7 was arrested last night By Policeman
 Patrick O'Mara after a complaint had been received at police head quarters that an automobile driver in a zig-zag manner on Chapman
 street, had swcrved across the roa(
 and struck a machine owned by Will f liam Hopknson of 176 Chapman street, damaging the rear fender Hopl,inson caught the number of th' l machine but failed in attempts tt
 stop it, so be reported to police sta
 tion.
 An investigation revealed thc own
 CT of the machine and O'Mara wen to the Peterson place, finding Peter son outside. He asked to see the | machine and after receiving a dena from Peterson that he owned 8 ma chine that answered the description