100 years ago: Police crack down on erring drivers
From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 2, 1915:
- “Lawrence is no place for the jay drivers as some of them have found, much to their sorrow. After having given the traffic laws thorough publication the police have now begun the stringent enforcement of the traffic ordinance. Warrants for eleven ‘jays’ were sworn out in the Police court this morning. These drivers are not all automobile drivers. Some of them were driving horses to buggies, others were driving wagons, but they violated the ordinance and they must pay the penalty. Lawrence has been known as the town of the jay drivers and the officials are tired of seeing people drive about the streets in any manner which pleases them and they have undertaken the education of the drivers of Lawrence…. One of the irate men for whom a warrant was issued came to the Police station in a very angry condition and asked what kind of a town this was getting to be. He said that if it was too nice for a decent citizen to live in he was going to move out. After a careful consideration of the matter and the realization that it would not do for people to drive promiscuously about the streets he decided that possibly the best thing would be to drive according to the regulations of the city officials.”
- “In a fit of despondency, to which he has been accustomed for a number of years, Leland Moore, age 31 years, of Ottawa, Kansas, purchased a revolver and shot himself this morning…. Moore is a graduate of the College of Kansas University, and has been employed as a stenographer at San Bernardino, California, for the past three years…. Moore’s parents and brother have experienced anxiety for him for some time fearing that he would take his life at some time during a spell of melancholy to which he is subject, and they have been doing all possible to keep him from such attacks. It was for this reason that he was taken to California, his parents thinking that the change would do him good, but it seems that it had little effect on him…. They came to Lawrence so that Leland could take treatment from Prof. R. A. Schwegler, who is known as a specialist in treating such cases and of whom Moore was very fond. This morning he went to Prof. Schwegler and seemed to be in a very good humor.”
- “R. M. Curshey, J. H. Reed and J. W. Waugh, linemen from Kansas City, are working for the Postal Telegraph Company here. They are putting in two new wires leading from the central office, these wires representing increase of business that made them necessary. Besides the system here is being overhauled, new cables, wires, insulators and other parts replacing old ones taken out to improve the service.”
- “Mr. Pendleton is very low and the noise of the passing traffic disturbs him…. Special policemen have been sworn in and are guarding the streets leading to the home of W. H. Pendleton at 1000 Tennessee. Four men are being used to guard these streets. It is reported that Mr. Pendleton’s condition is little changed.”