New Britain herald., 1926-09-29
EIGHT DRIVERS IN
 MISSILES OF POLICE
Variety of Charges Preferred at
 Session Of Court
Eisht cases of alleged violation of

by Judge B. W. Alling in police court this morning. The charges Included reckless driving, driving without licenses and registrations; driving with improper brakes, evad- ing responsibility after accidents. disobeving a traffic officers signal. There were no speeders or intoNi- cated drivers on the list. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney w. N. Green stein presented the states cases.
 Robert Eshner was fined $50, with s25 remitted. on the charge Of evad- ing responsibility after m accident, He admitted that his car struck a car owned by Edward Garwin of " Union street, Bristol in front of SIT West Main street, this city, about s:45 last Sunday night, and con- tinued without determining the ex- tent of the damage. He could give TO better excuse for driving on that he did not think 1t would have done any good to stop. He said he had read the motor vehicle laws and realized the existence of a clause relative to a drivers responsibility in connection with accidents.
 MT. Garwin said he was about to drive away from the curb when his car was struck. The impact caused & puncture, which he repaired, and there was no other damage done. He worked on the tire about half an hour and Eshner did not return. He caught his number, however, and reported 1t to the police. As a result of an investigation, Sergeant OMara arrested Eshner,
 Bernard Peplau. aged 20, of 226 Rocky Hill avenue pleaded not guilty to the charge of reckless driv- ing and was represented by Attor- ney T. F. McDonough. Sergeant J. J. King testified that Peplau drove around ~e corner from Main into Ws~ Main as the sergeant was in front of City Hall about ?. m. yesterday, at the rate of about 25 miles an hour and after passing two cars struck another car. The green light was showing on the traffic signal. The other car was proceeding at a moderate rate of speed, the sergeant testified.
 B. F. Miller of Darian who was driving the other car. testified that Peplau drove around the corner at the rate of 25 miles an hour and cut in front of his car striking the right front fender. Miller said his speed was about 10 miles an hour, his car having just got under way after being stopped by the red sig nal.
 Peplau testified that Miller's car struck his car at about the middle of the street. He did not see Miller's car as he was watching the road. Judge filling asked him what busi- ness he has driving a car if he does not look to see what other traffic is near him. He asked Peplau what the speed of his car was at the time of the accident. Peplau said 1o or IS miles an hour which Judge AL ling said Is too fast in view of the traffic and the fact that some cars 20 straight out West Main street and others make the turn to go down the west side of the park. Peplau denied that he had driven past two other cars as Sergeant King had testified.
 Attorney McDonough argued that Peplau was not criminally reckless A car that goes around this particu- lar corner at 5 miles an hour is be- ing more recklessly driven than Q car going Is or IS miles an hour The witnesses who testified that Peplau was driving 25 miles ar hour are not fair, not that they are the type of people who would de, liberately browbeat a boy but be- cause they have an interest in the case" he said.
 Do you think Sergeant King has an interest in the case" Judge AL ling asked.
 "Yes, I do. Every police officer has an interest in cases in this court" Attorney McDonough re- piled.
 Judge filling said he would re- peat the declaration he made in court yesterday, which is that If drivers would have more regard for the rules of the road there would be fewer accidents on the highway Peplau admitted that his car de- veloped a speed of l 5 or IS miles an hour in a. space of a few feet. There fore he was reckless, and he was reckless also when he drove diagon- ally across West Main street in front Of other cars. the judge said.
 Attorney McDonough asked for lAniency, pointing out that Peplau has been driving two years and his record is clear.
 Conviction on the charge of reck' less driving Is a serious matter. Pep lau has learned a lesson and has been punished sufficiently by his ar- raignment in court.
 Judge filling imposed q fine Of S25 and remitted $1o.
 Michael Garbin aged 45. Of 353 Commonwealth avenue was fined SIC and costs for violation of the rules of the road. the charge being chang ed from reckless driving. Attorney P. r. McDonough entered a plea of nolo contendere. saying a civil suit will probably result from the col lsion between Garhin's car and a car driven by Salvatore Milli of Hartford. and he wants to protect Garbin's rights.
 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney w NJ. Greenstein said Garbin was driv- ing west on Commonwealth avenue and should have yielded the right of way to Millls car at the corner ot Carlton street He recommended the $lo penalty.
 Sebastiauo Coccomo, aged B. Of 1S4 High street, was fined s for cisobeying the gnal of officer Han ford Dart at the traffic post a' Franklin Square and Elm street and was discharged on the charge o' driving without registration. A, torney Alfred Levitt represented him and said Cocromo had the re