Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10
BRITISH CHAUFFEUR
BLAMED IN M|SHAP
.lEIdridge Finds Sir Esme's
Driver Responsible for Let.
ting Boy Have Wheel.

A preliminary investigation into the
facts surrounding the injury of Bea.
trice Mae DeForest, II years old, by
the automobile carrying Sir Esme
Howard. the British Ambassador, and
driven by his 14.year-old son. Henry.
conducted hy NJ. q. Eldridge. assistant
traffic director. has led him to the con
clusion that the chauffeur of the car,
Charles Edward Hadley, a British sub
1ect. is responsible for the accident
which occurred to the young girl as
she stepped from a street car Satur.
day night.
Mr.. Eldridge, who has forwarded
his findings 10 the District Commits
sioners for final action by them, eX'
planned that the Ambassador son. &C.
tualiy was responsible, but as he was
under age and held no permit. the liza
hility shifts to the person in charge OF
the car. who in this case was <the
chauffeur.
Sir Esme yesterday informed Secre-
tary OF State kellogg of his regrets
over the misfortune that had hetailen
Beatrice and accepted fun RESPONSE
hility on behalf of his son and him.
self for the accident. Today he told
newSpa per men that he has stand
ing offer OF assistance to the DeFor-
est family and that IL ii were pos
eihle for him to waive the diplomatic
immunity with which he is clothed he
would gladly do so in order to comply
with any legal action with which an
American citizen would he faced.
Can't Waive Immunity.
However, Sir Esme emphasized, in
his opinion it ia impossible to waive
the immunity as that is n protection
f-h no
universally for more than zoo years
and cannot he set aside at will. His
explana ton OF the matter made II
plain that in no way was he seeking
10 escape liability or punishment on
the charge that his automobile failed
to stop while a street car was dis
charging passengers. if that charge
could be pressed.
Sir E.sme declared if he were as,
sessed a fine for the offense he would
hasten 10 Secretary kellogg and his
own government for permission TO
pay II. but he predicted he would be
met with the high wall of immunity
which could not be excepted for par.
ficular cases. no matter how much
the individual receiving that protec.
ton desired that it be waived.
The AmhasSador said today he was
happy TO learn that the injuries TO
the little girl are not as serious as
first reports OF physicians had them
and that there no longer is ground
for the belief that she has conclusion
OF the brain.
Emphasizing that his young son
will not drive about the streets of
Washington. no matter by whom he
IL accompa nied. until he becomes of
the legal age to receive a permit, the
Ambassador confessed that he was in
ignorance of the law governing op.
GRAFTON OF automobiles ny minors or
he never would have permitted Henry
TO take the wheel. ''Once is enough, -
the Ambassador added
MOI Always Immune In London.
Even though the District authori-
ties hay fun responsibility on the
chauffeur. which Sir E.sme has vol
unfairly assumed, Hadley In clothed
with the same immunity. and he like
wise could not waive it, no matter
how much ne desired, the Amba ssa dor
explained
The ANITA ssador and his son find
consolation in the fact that the car
vas moving slowly when il struck
Beatrice as she stepped 10 the street
Sir Esne said he had not observed the
street car closely. hut his recollection
was that when the rear door closed
the car started forward. only to he
met by the ope.ing OF the front door
and the little girl.
LONDON. January 10 O9.-In con.
necsion with the question ~ dipIn.
matte immunity raised in Washington
when a 12-year-old girl was struck bs
an automobile driven by the British
Ambassador 14-year -old son. il was
recalled today that foreign diplomat s
had not always been granted imrnu.
nifty here.
In July. 1922. the son Of the Bra.
lillian Minister 10 Great Britain was
lined for driving a car dangerously
through the streets NJ Maidenhead
The magistrate rejected the claim OF
immunity entered on behalf OF the dip.
1omat's son.
On the other hand. Justice NcCardse
ruled in High Court in October, 1923,
fnat an sr1FSs dors judicial irnmu.
nifty included his family, stan and
servants.