The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1925-08-20
Of Drunk
en- DriVine
William Hartpence Dismissed From
Charge By Justice 0blinger

New Hope-Saturday evening
about nine O'Clock Ford station
wagon, driven by Frank Camp, of
Centre Bridge, was crashed into by
William Hartpence, of Lumberville.
The accident occurred on North Main
street just, beyond the curve where
the road follows the river. Camp
was driving down the road headed
for Lambertville. Hartpence was
headed for Lumberville.
Camp said that before the Hart
pence car approached him he saw
that it was weaving over the road,
and fearing smash he slowed
down to eight miles an hour and
not only sounded his horn, but yell
ed to the driver to watch out.
However, the Hartpence car smash
ed into his car and then, evidently
realizing the fault was his, tried
to get away.
But due to q fiat tire caused by
the smash, Hartpence only got about
200 feet before he was forced to
stop. Camp and his uncle followed
him and held him until Constable
John Hartman arrived and put him
under arrest. In the meantime Frank
Camps father, James Camp, bar
Der, Of Lambertville, arrived on the
scene, and he preferred charges
against Hartpence for driving
car while intoxicated
No doctor could be found to ex-
anime the man at the time, and
he was arraigned before Justice OBJ
linger who asked him if he had been
drinking He admitted having had
three drinks, but said that he knew
what he was doing. Witnesses say
that he became so abusive before
Justice Oblnger that the latter
threatened to remand him to Jail
at DOylestown.
But Camp interceded for him,
saying that he didn't want to see
the man locked up in Jail; all he
wanted was to make him pay for
the damages he had caused to his
car. In the meantime Dr. r. c. Ma
gill had returned to his office, and
Hartpence was taken to him for an
examination.
Several hours had elapsed, how
ever, since the accident, and it
was said that Hartpence had been
copiously drinking water and chew
ing tobacco before the examina-
tion. Nevertheless, Dr. Magill found
evidences of drink on him, but at the
time Of the examination he could
not consistently say that Hartpence
was too drunk to drive a car at the
time of the accident.
As it was late at night, Justice
Oblinger postponed the hearing until
Monday evening at nine o'clock. At
that time when the hearing was
held Justice Oblinger dismissed the
case. Camp protested that Hartpence
should be made to pay for the
damages to his car, but Justice OBJ
lnger replied that the charges made
before him was that Hartpence was
guilty of drunken driving, and that
as DR. Magill did not find him act
ually drunk he couldn't hold him.
He added that no charges had been
made against Hartpence for dam
ages, and that would involve a civil
action instead Of aa criminal action.
/ Camp complained that the hear
ing was not held in order, as JUS
tice Oblinger had not opened his
office, but had taken the interest
ed parties into the coal yard at the
rear where the public was denied
admission. He said he would sue
Hartpence for his damages. Hart
pence then threatened to sue Camp
on the charge that his lights were
not focused, and that had blinded
him and caused the accident.