Evening star., 1928-05-02
MINISTER IS FREED
| OF AUTO SPEEDING
Baltimore Pastor Who Ac-
Cused Town Officers of In
toxicatIon Is Acquitted.
sy stan Correspondent. Of The star

Ry Stan Correspondent OF The Star
HYATTSVTLLE. Md. May with
the American Automobile Association
officially interested in the defense, Rev.
Robert Clarence Meeks, pastor OF the
Central NJ. E. Church South. Baltimore,
was acquitted in Police Court here to-
day on a charge of speeding on the
Baltimore pike on April 10 last after
he had accused the arrestlng ofncer
end accompanying magistrate OF maud
lin intoxication" at the time OF his
arrest.
The accused officers were Justice Of
the Peace RAYMOND ~ Moreland and
Deputy Marshal Eugene Hunt, ooth OF
Colmar Manor.
TeStifieS in Own Defense.
Taking the stand in his own defense,
the prominent Baltimore clergyman de-
clared TO the court that Justice More
land. in a car used by Hunt to pursue
him was too drunk TO get out of the
automobile after the minister's car had
becn stopped: that Hunt used abusive
language 10 him in the presence OF his
two Young daughterS. and that the mag
istrate was so intoxicated that he was
unable 10 finish writing out a warrant
on the speeding charge. The town Of
fIcers denied the accusations and
charged that the ministers car vas
speeding at the rate Of between 40 and
Is miles an hour.
The little courtroom here was crowd
Cd as news spread OF the sensational
case. and Judge Sheriff. presiding. had
difficulty in maintaining order both on
the part Of witnesses and attorneys.
Church Members Attend Trial.
The minister was represented by c.
c. Collins. attorney for the A. A. A.
OF Washington. and c. Clem Graetsel of
Baltimore. r F. Behler. manager OF
the District of Columbia division of
the A. A. A., assisted in the defense
The minister brought with him from
Baltimore more than dozen members
Of his congregation, including the pre-
siding elder of the Methodist Episcopal
Conference. Rev. T. ]. Lambert
Rev. Mr.. MeekS testified that he was
proceeding TO Baltimore about II O'Clock
the evining of April 10 when he was
attracted by the sounding of an auto
mobile horn in the rear.
He declared he was going between
20 and 25 miles an hour through Col
mar Manor, but had slowed down 20 10
or Is miles an hour TO round the curve
AT the Defense Highway Monument He
said that the car. which contained, in
addition to Moreland and Hunt. couple
Of other men, cut across in front Of him
on the curve and forced nsm from tl1c
road. He said he thanked God" that
he was not going any faster al the time.
for somebody would have been killed. :"
Minister Declared in Arrest.
Mr.. Meeks told the court that Hunt
got out Of the car and announced that
he was under arrest for speeding. The
minister said that Magistrate Noreland
started TO get out Of the car. but was
unable 70 stand up and climbed back in
He said all four Of the men were drunk.
The minister was ordered to drive 10
the home Of Judge Moreland, where the
latter demanded 500 bond and. Mr..
Meeks declared, the officer attempted
70 write out q warrant. but was unable
70 do SO because Of his maudlin condi-
ton. The minister then teIephoned
70 Baltimore and summoned Attorney
Graetzei who hurried TO the justices
house and procured his release on per-
Eona4 rec0gnizance.
Of5ceT Hunt declared that ne was
standing on fle side Of the road that
night and saw the ministers car coming
al high rate Of speed. He stated that
ne walked To the car in which Judge
MoTelan0 was seated, with George l.
Whitley. chauffeur. and John Nebei.
says He Paced" the Car.
Hunt declared he paced Rev. Meeks'
car for some distance and that he was
going between 40 and IS miles uer
hour. Hunts testimony was corrobo-
rated By Whitley and Nebel. Morc,and
admitted he was in the car, but said
ne didn't pay much attention" to how
last the cars were going during the nj.
legged chase. All denied that any liquor
hao been drunk bv them that night.
II cismlsSii1g the case Judge sheriff