CHALLENGE TO BENCH.

Evening Star, Issue 13090, 24 October 1908, Page 7

CHALLENGE TO BENCH.

Lady Watts, wife of the Director of Naval Construction, made a sporting offer to the magistrates at Feltham (Eng.) on September 10 which the Bench flatly refused to accept. Her chauffeur, Robert .Slater Elliott, was summoned for exceeding the ton-mile speed limit in the Chestnut avenue, Bnshey Park, on August 22. Park-keeper T. J. Wakefield testified that the speed was equal to about twenty and v a-half miles an hour. “ All I can say is that the car can’t do it,” said defendant, “ and if anyone can get more than twenty miles an hour out of it we are willing to give it to him.” She went on to say that she was riding in the car at the time, and she was positive it was not going at anything like the speed alleged. She had frequently motored through Bushey Park, and know the park-keepers were watching motorists, for she could see them dodging about amongst the trees. On this particular occasion they were simply crawling’ along as slowly as they could, and when she saw a park-keeper standing in front of the car, she was amazed, and called out : “ What on earth are you doing in the middle of the road ?” She then learnt that they _ were charged with exceeding the ten-mile limit, which was preposterous. “If any of you gentlemen has a chauffeur,” she added, “I will be delighted to let you have a run-in my car, just to prove that it can’t do that speed.” “ Besides, when I took the two stopwatches in my hand I found that they showed a difference of a minuto and a half, so I said : ‘ T am going to keep these watches for the magistrates to see,’ and I did keep them. I don’t know what you pay for these watches, whether it is £2O or only 20s. How much is it?” The Chairman ; We do not pay anything. As she left the box defendant added ; “ I suppose the poor fellows had been waiting in the park all day for a case, and thought they would pounce on ns. It’s most outrageous.” Two gentlemen who were motoring past at the time, and were stopped by Lady Watts and shown the watches, were called, and declared that there was a difference between them of quite a minute and a-half. The Chairman said tho Bench were satisfied the car was going more than ten miles an hour. Defendant would be fined £3. Lady Watts : What, three pounds! Then there is no justice in England. We were told we should not get justice before a bench of magistrates, and I believe no- | body ever does. Having paid the money, she turned to the Bench, and said : “ Will you not try i my car now?” ; The chairman smilingly shook his head. “ I have a speedometer, and you ought to try it,” Lady Watts pleaded. But the magistrates made no response, and she left the court in evident displeasure. ,