Evening star., 1948-05-02
Bus Driver 10 Appeal
Stiff Sentence in
Fatal Car Crash

| ol0I IoI vIdSII
John A. Prezzi, 80, Capital Transit
bus driver sentenced to 80 days and
$500 fine for negligent homicide
in a traffic death, will appeal the
case before the Municipal Appeals
Court.
Target Of one of the heaviest SEN
tences ever imposed here on that
charge. Prezi noted the appeal
through his attorney, Sidney John
son, Immediately after being sen.
fenced by Judge George D. Nelson
In Municipal Court yesterday.
The judge set bond at $1,000
pending outcome of appellate court
action.
The defendant, who lives in the
2400 block Of North Capitol street
was convicted by a jury last De-
cember after a four-day trial be-
fore the late Judge Nathan r. Mar
gold. Judge Nelson later was as
signed the case to hear a defense
motion for a new trial, which he
overruled yesterday prior to SEN
fencing.
Girl Killed in Collision.
Killed in a bus-automobile COLI
sion in February, 1947, while re-
turning from a school dance, was
Harriet Winslow, 16, whose par
ents live at Is East Lennox street
Chevy Chase, Md. The girls father
Francis WinslcW. is an official of
the Union Market DEVELOPMENT
Corp.
She was a passenger In a cal
driven by Charles L. Goodrich, II
of 4344 Forest lane NV, whose
father, Edgar J. Goodrich, is a for
mer member of the United States
Board of Tax Appeals.
in the prosecution handled by
Assistant United States ATTORNEY
Richard M. Roberts, evidence
showed that young Goodrich's ca,
was struck broadside as it slowly
entered Thirteenth street at the
intersection of Farragut street NV
witnesses testified that the bus
driven by Prezzi, who was heading
back to the garage after complet-
ing his nights run at 1:20 am,
was travelling between 30 and 4C
miles per hour when it collided
throwing the Goodrich car 81 feet
In the crash, the bus continued TO,
more than 100 feet, jumped the
sidewalk and destroyed the front
porch of home near the inter.
section.
The girl was killed almost in.
stantly. Young Goodrich was seri.
ously injured. Prezzi was not hurt
A coroner's jury later exoneratet
both drivers Of blame in the death
but the U. S. Attorneys Once ini.
tiated proceedings against PrezA.
Judge Opposes Leniency.
Judge Nelson yesterday said h,
could see no reason for lenienc,
toward the bus driver.
This girl is just as dead through
his negligence as If she had beer
premeditatedly murdered" he de,
clared. "All motorists are potentia
murderers unless they exercise tn,
utmost diligence and care in theiI
driving"
The defendant was visibly shaker
when the sentence. which calls fol
an extra 80 days in Jail in defaul
OF paving the $500 fine, was an.
nounced and the judge said ther,
were no mitigating circumstances
! in the case.
His attorney. Mr. johnson, re.
ceived the courts support when h,
announced he would appeal OF
grounds that the late Judge Margolt
had improperly instructed the jury
| Although his action overruling tn,
lawyers new trial motion backec
the late jurist's stand, Judge Neilsor
commented that the appellate cour
here never has had occasion tt
rule on the elements which shoulc
be included in jury's instruction!
in negligent homicide cases.
| Mr.. johnson had contended thai
in cases where drivers of two OF
more cars in a fatal traffic accident
may be found negligent in tn.
death. none may be convicted O.
negligent homicide. He said Judg,
Margold failed to include this ir
his charge to the jury.
Judge Nelson, however, held tina
any or all drivers involved. in tn.
death can be convicted on tn,
charge, But he added that appel
late court action on Mr.. Johnson /!
question might result in the draft.
Ing OF a set of instructions to b,
given the jury by a judge in futur,