Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-08-10
Verdict Not Guilty
Reckless Driving
In a Year Old Case

beh1amln Rudnfk OF Brookline
was found not guilty of reckless
diving on the Augusta road on last
aug. !, 1924 when he was tried in
the Waterville municipal court Sat
urday morYang before Recorder ]. A.
Lstourneau. The action against
Rudnik was brought as a result of a
collision between the Peerless sedan
driven by him and a Star touring
car driven by Eugene r. Ellis of
East Chestnut street, Augusta, in
which the Star was considerably
damaged. State Policeman S. NJ.
Frost madeNthe arrest.
Ellis was the first to take the
stand and he testified that on Aug.
last year be was working in Wa
tefyille and was going to and from
Waterville by auto. About 4 o'clock
"a the afternoon he and another
man. Ebert Varney, were going
DOWN . long hill, near an inn known
as the Elms. Coming towards him.
he said, was a Ford sedan behind
which was Mr.. Rudnik's car. AS
the Ford neared the Star. Ellis
claimed that the Peerless pulled out
onto the left side of the road as
though to pass and the collision was
tnus made unavoidable. The wit
ne1's car was badly damaged and
was thrown onto pile of rocks. He
maintained thatsmeasurements made
sHer the accident showed that he
had but seven feet five inches of the
load. After the clash had occurred
Ellis got out of his car and took
me license number of the Peerless
which had come to stop.
Mr.. Frost said that he arrived at
the scene of the accident shortly af-
Yer the two cars had come together
ana that he found the Star In the
uitch and the Peerless at the bot
tom of the Hill about 125 feet be-
!ond the Star. The officer said that
ne did not arrest Rudnik at the time
put that the Massachusetts, man said
ne could be found at Camp Somer-
let H. Oakland, where his child was
passing the summer Upon inquiry
mere q few days later Frost learned
mat Rudnik had returned to his
nome. This summe" he testified
mat he was given the license num-
oers OF the Rudnik and got war
rant for the arrest of the driver on
charge of reckless driving. A few
Gays ago he saw the Peerless pass
nm on the Augusta road at which
ame ne served the warrant.
Jonn Steyes of Vassalboro, an au-
'omobile mechanic, testified that ne
was called to the scene of the col
hslon and that he arrived there
wv moments previous to Frost. his
..esumony was largely on corroDora-
aon OF that of the State Policeman.
:. Al this point of the trial Thomas
y. Weeks, counsel for Rudnik, said
mat ne did not think that the state
nad substantiated its case sufficiently
- mold the respondent but Judge
e.ourneau ruled otherwise.
Mr. Rudnik said that he was q
sseaitor, living in Brookline. 1t was
ais story that at the time of the ac-
sloent he was rounding curve at q
,,eery slow rate of speed, about IL or
% miles an hour and that at no time
sss there car in front of him. he
canned that the Star was going as
.sH as a small car could go and
Aat the car was wabbling from size
y. sde. Rudnik said that the ac-
acent occurred when the front
speel Of the Star hit q hub cap on
The Peerless.
Al the time of the accident the
reerless was occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Rudnik and Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
.drd Ansin, also of Brooklipe. Inc
ansins a. both testified to a story SIM
iar to that of the defendant. Mrs.
AuQnlk Wac not In court