The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-01
| with the
EAlibi Artists
Ia Cross Section Of the
Daily Grind in Judge
Mattingly's Court
Read EN- and Weep
By DONALD McDOUGAL
Believe It or Not

Believe 1t or NOT
He came up the wrong side OF
r street, your honor, and cut
the corner into First. / ran
into the road and signalled him
to stop. He kept right along
toward me and / prevented an
accident by jumping on his run
ming board.
IT asked him, why didn't you
stop?'
He said, Officer, I've forgot
ten how to stop. Everything
do. the cussed machine only goes
faster. I've been running around
the block since half past eleven
this morning. was hoping to
keep out of trouble till the gas
ran OUT Maybe there's some.
thing loose about the machinery.
II told him there was some
thing loose, but not about the
machinery, cut off his ignition.
and asked him for his permit.
Ha showed me a ten-day ticket
that expired some time last week.
$50 we went down to the Traf.
fic Bureau and found his permit
was all ready for him. and he
only had to sign his name to get
It. didn't know whether 10
charge him with driving without
a permit or not"
Boob: II contend that cannot
properly be charged with failing
to show permit, your honor, be-
cause l never have been given
a permit; and l can't be charged
with driving without a permit,
because my name is on record
at the Traffic Bureau as a permit
holder"
You're cutting it pretty thin.
What's your business?"
I'm a lawyer"
"I thought you were either that
or al tight-rope walker. Bring
vour permit in here tomorrow and
IN take your personal bond.
don't want to spoil your record
before you start it,"
The Point OF View
Witness: II was-sitting on the
see-wall at Seventh and the Ave-
Opposite the loading platform
there?"
YES, SIR"
And you claim mat you noticed
this accident in the middle OF
Seventh street"'
Eyes, sir"
1T doesn't sound probable
but"
1There wasn't anyone on the
loading platform just then, your
honor"
"That makes it more reason,
able. Go ahead.
"A south-bound Seventh street
car had just pulled up at the stop
point a little north OF the Ave
nue."
ut takes quite high step to
board a car there, doesn't it?'
"Yes sir-it's quite climb.
"Your claim doesn't sound so
wild now. All right"
There were three ladies and
some men waiting to board the
street car. 1t waited a moment
or two after everyone got on,
and then started across the Ave-
nue., fruit wagon following about
twenty feet behind.
This man over here with the
bandaged head was driving 1t,
and when he had about reached
the center Of the north roadway,
a westbound taxi knocked him so
close to where / was standing
that l jumped up"
You actually got up from your
seat on the see-wall?"
Yes. Sir"
1t must have been pretty
severe crash"
Voice from the bandaged head:
"Sickety-n dollore sickety.sick
cent"
"A Ford. wasn't it?"
"ShoO!
Conductor: II don't know much
obout the crash. your honor. ex.
cept that 1t happened so close to
my car that one OF the men pas.
sengers was so startled he let a
lady get the last seat"
Boob: I'm guilty, but they've
got 1t all wrong. There wasn't
any street car around there"
Didn't you see that street carr"
mo, sir-I did not. There
wasn't any street car around"
You weren't looking at 1t from
the see-wall side. $50.
{