Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-26
OOFAC|NGF|NES
ON DETOUR CHARGE
Court Rules Massachusetts
Avenue Area Held No
Trap for Autoists.

More than 100 persons given tickets
for entering a closed area on Massa-
chusetts avenue between Fifth and
Third streets late yesterday are liable
to fines as a result of the ruling OF
Traffic Court Judge Isaac r. Hit to-
day in the case of Lawrence Mills, a
lawyer, 1918 Eleventh street northeast
one of those charged with passing the
detour signs.
The case was fought, with the Amer
lean Automobile Association directing
the defense, the association holding that
the closed area was deliberate trap
for motorists.
Judge Hit ruled that there was nc
trap in the closed area and declared
that the police did everything in their
power to protect the motorists. He
took Mr.. Mills personal bond.
Meanwhile, Capt. Martin Reilly OF
the sixth precinct gave assurance today
that proper action to warn motorists
against entering the closed area would
be given and that the practice of wait
ing inside the detour signs and giving
motorists who pass them tickets would
be discontinued.
In another case today, Judge Hit
accepted the excuse of Douglas w.
Winters, 915 Sixth street. that he did
not see the detour sign because Of chill
dren playing in the street, and the case
was dismissed.
In two other cases, those of Edward
D. Schloemerer and Clagg G. Stegal,
pleas of guilty to disregarding the de-
tour signs we're accepted by the court
and they were released on their per-
sonal bond.
The Mills trial took more than an
hour and was marked by heated clashes
between Charles c. Collins. A. A. A.
counsel. who conducted the defense, and
Assistant Corporation Counsel Chester
H. Gray, prosecutor. Collins attempted
to prove that the situation on MasSa-
chusetts avenue yesterday afternoon
was comparable to 'the old country
roadside court system
last night, however, that police aban-
doned the practice of giving tickets. and
this came only after George E. Keneipp,
manager of the District division OF the
A. A. A., had appealed to Inspector E. L.
Grown of the Traffic Bureau and cx.
planned the situation. Then the detour
cigns we're removed and traffic was al
lowed to go on through Massachusetts
avenue and H street, where police for
two hours and a half had been issuing
tickets. and running what Sergt. B. j.
Houch. one of the policemen on duty
at the trap. termed "a toll business"
Signs Back Again Today.
Today the signs were back again in
more prominent places and motorists
were reported to be observing them.
Acting cn complaints that bad traf-
fic situation existed in the section be-
tween Fifth and Third streets on Massa-
chusetts avenue and on H street be-
tween Massachusetts, avenue and Third
street, where sewer work was being
done, Capt. Reilly asked the TRAFFIC Bu-
reau for detour signs and put them in
place at about o'clock yesterday after
noon. He stationed an officer at the
apex of the little triangular park at
Massachusetts avenue and H street Due
to street cars entering the closed sec
ton. the policeman on duty found a
flood of automobile traffic entering both
ways into the closed portion of H street
and Massachusetts avenue, and called
for help from the precinct station to
cope with the situation.
The cars entering the closed section
cften obscured the view of motorists
of the detour signs and the traffic
poured on through.
Then the three policemen trying to
cope with the situation started to take
drastic action. They stationed them
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