Putnam patriot., 1925-04-10
Abe Ssperstone's Car Collides With Car of City's Chief
 Executive
Defendant Found Not Guilty of Reek
 less Driving

Mayor Chapdelaine was complain ant and chief witness against Abe Sapersfone ef Boston ia the city court. Monday morning. the only case on the court docket. After hearing the testimony of six witnesses Judge M. H. Geissler, in a rather lengthy decision. said that the case vas "feIl of doubt" and found the defendant not guilty Of reckless driving.
 The case grew out of a collision between 8 large sedan operated by the salesman and a light roadster operated by the mayor at the inter section Of Main and Bridge streets jus; before noon last Friday. The larger car suffered the greater dam age In the mixup consisting of hole ln the front panel of the body.
 Mayor Tes,i6es
 The eity's chief executive was the first witness called b. Prosecuting Attorney. F. H Johnson. and testified that he was proceeding along Main street in a northerly direction and put out his hand co signal that ne was about to turn into Bridge street That he saw no ear coming from the opposite direction until just be- fore the automobiles came together. The ear Of the defendant hit witness's car on the right hand side near the front wheel and turned t about. The heavier ear then crossed the side walk and stopped. s7 feet away. in front of the entrance to the Cargill hotel. Mayor Chapdelaine said that the distance the car went before t stopped denoted that it was travelling fast
 On cross examination the Mayor said that he did not see any wagon in the highway ahead of him. nor the other car approaching.
 Henry Tetreault testified that he was near the home of John Gahan not far from where the accident oe- cured and saw a closed car pass at rate of speed he estimated to be 90 10 B miles an hour and that thirty seconds later he heard the crash of the collision.
 On cross examination he admitted that he did not know whether the ear that passed him WAS the car of the defendant nor did he recognize the defendant.
 Mayor Aimed to urn
 Mrs. John Law said that she was sitting in an automobile in front of Dr. Russelfs and saw the [ , cars. She said that the ear of the Mayor was proceeding slowly bat that the car of the defendant waz going fast She said she noticed that Mayor Chap deiHine '.aimedn te turn into Bridge street and was looking that way. She did not remember any wagon being in front of the Mayors car.
 Knocked oH Seat
 The state rested and the defendant took the stand He said he lived in Dorchester but travelled in Couuec- ticut for q Boston wholesale house. That he was proceeding along Main street at from i3 to l5 miles an hour and was travelling at that speed when he reached the intersection. Just as he arrived at the intersection the other car came out from behind n wagon and he turned to avoid hitting it. T did not run into him. He ran into me-" said the witness. Tn impact ef the collision. the witness said. threw him of the seat and he lost control of the car and it had nearly come to a stop under it's own momentum when he finally was able to grab the emergency brake.
 Mrs. Thomas Jones turned out to be the star witness for the defend ant. She was on the sidewalk in front of her home near the corner and saw both ears before the accident and at the time of the accident. She said and that she saw the Mayor turn Co. ward Bridge street as the other car was approaching and shouted to him. She said there was a wagon ahead of the Mayors car when he made the turn.
 Not Criminal Act Eve2y Time
 After arguucnts Judge Geissler made his decision He said that many people thought that every time there was a collision that there must be criminal negligence. He said this was not SO He thought that ire quently errors of judgment were made but that they were not neeess- urily criminal acts lt was not for the court to decide whether there was civil liability but to decide whether or not the state had proved reeklessness under the purview of the statute beyond reasonable doubt. "rhe ease is full ef doubt all along the way" said Judge Geissler. ''and shall therefore heve to find the de- fendant not guilty"