Columbia's First Speeding Case

Columbia Daily Tribune, 25 June 1909, p. 1/col. 5.

FIRST SPEED LIMIT CASE
AUTO DRIVER APPEALED TO CIRCUIT COURT

The case of the City of Columbia against Ray Dunlap, an automobile driver charged with violating the city speed limit ordinance, was tried before Justice Stockton yesterday afternoon before a jury. The case is one "of first impression" in Columbia. Officer E.E. Beasley testified that he held a stop watch on the machine as it ran the block from the court house to Broadway on Eighth street and that the machine was going at a greater rate than eight miles an hour. Dunlap was fined $5 and costs. The case was appealed to circuit court.

Commentary:
Ray Dunlap/Dunlapp was an early automobile enthusiast who opened an automobile service garage. Maybe he was "testing" one of his new machines. Justice Stockton was Judge James T. Stockton. Officer Beasley was Everett E. Beasley.  A 1910 photograph of Columbia police officers, including E.E. Beasley, was published in Images of our Lives Since 1901, Columbia Daily Tribune, Columbia, Missouri 2001, p. 19.