Evening star., 1935-07-20
NEW TRAFFIC WAR
FOLLOWS KILLING
OF D. c. GIRL, I
Relentless Drive DeCreed by
Brown and Hazen to Curb
Death Toll.
FATALITIES ONLY 7 LESS
THAN IN 1894 PERIOD
Police Ordered to Show No Quar-
ter-May Demand License
Revelations.

War was declared on death drivers
and other traffic violators today by
Supt. of Police Ernest w. Brown with
the active backing of Commissioner
Melvin c. Hazen.
Hazen called Maj. Brown on the
telephone this morning and said
IT am with you. Go to it hard and
heavy"
The police chief was aroused to
demand the "big-stick" policy against
reckless car operators after 7-year-
old girl died in Emergency Hospital
yesterday as a result of an accident
in nearby Virginia and II other per-
sons were injured, several seriously, In
the District.
Yesterdays fatality was little Ann
Gutenberg, 1881 Euclid street, who
was struck by an oil truck as she
made ready to board an automobile
near the Airport Pool parking lot.
Death Toll Is 62.
The traffic toll thus far in 1885 Is
81 deaths, Just seven less than the
50 killed at this time in 1884, when
the record number Of auto deaths,
135, was set.
Both Brown and Hazen are ready
to junk educational campaigns in
favor of a vigorous, no-quarter law
enforcement campaign.
Inspector B. A. Lamb, chief of the
Traffic Bureau, is ready to demand
revocation of licenses of persons found
guilty of reckless driving.
Brown today sent word to all police
officers to show no mercy to drivers
who ignore red lights and stop signs
and weave in and out of traffic lanes.
Hazen said:
II don't want to hear any screaming
from people who get hit in the police
campaign. If they get caught vio-
lating rules, they'll have to take the
punishment.
Some of these drivers are simply
speed crazy. They are not going any
where. There isn't any reason for all
this hurry in defiance of regulations.
1T seems you can't persuade drivers
to live up to their responsibilities by
educational campaigns. What else is
there for us to do but WELD the big
stick?"
George W. Ofutt, chairman of the
Trafhc Advisory Committee, told
Hazen:
THE time has come to burn these
drivers up. That is apparently the
only way we can make drivers obey
rules established for the protection of
the public"
Blair Via, 816 Twenty-frst street,
driver of the truck which struck the
Gutenberg girl, was to appear at a
hearing July 26 before Commonwealth
Attorney Lawrence Douglas of Arling-
ton County. No charges have been
filed against him.
Boys Leg Fractured.
A 7-year- ~colored boy, Joseph
Harper, 1884 New Jersey avenue, Suf-
fered compound fracture of the leg
and serious internal injuries yesterday
when he ran into the side of a car
driven by Julian r. Howdershell, 81,
of 215-A Bates street. He was taken
to Freedman'S Hospital, where his con-
ditiou today remained serious, officials
said.
Bernice Manguette. 6, of 210 F
street. received a broken leg and
body bruises when knocked down
at Third and F streets by
car which police say was driven
by Isaac E. Clinkett, colored, 81,
of Ballston, Va. The girl is in
Sibley Hospital and physicians be-
heve she may be disabled, Clinkett
was charged with having bad brakes
and released on $500 bond.
Another person reported seriously
injured was Charles w. Ross, colored,
27, of 1873 T street, who suffered
possible skull fracture and body in
juries when his motor cycle collided
with an automobile driven by George
Hunt colored, 46, of the 2100 block
of Flagler street.
Two-year-old William Miller. 634 H
street southwest, sustained a possible
skull fracture and body bruises when
struck at Second and M streets SOUTH
east by car police said was driven by
Clyde A. Shifiett, 27, of Alexandria,
Va. The boy was admitted to Gal
lnger Hospital, but his condition was
said to be not serious.
None of the other accidents resulted
In serious injuries.
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