Skates

Circuit Judge William Richardson Hunter, 79, of Kankakee, Ill. has been a -member of the Bar for 55 years, a judge for only three. During the three he has built up a State-wide reputation for unusual decisions. Last year, for example, he recommended the re-establishment of the whipping post for wife-beaters and gun-toters. Last week he made a stir with one more resounding decision: that a person on roller skates is a "vehicle." Up before peppery Judge Hunter came the case of 12-year-old James Maas, crippled by the car of one J. O. Workman while roller-skating on the State highway.

In Illinois, State law prescribes that pedestrians must walk on the left of a highway, facing traffic. Jimmy Maas was skating on the right. But, ruled Judge Hunter, skates are a wheeled mechanical device and the boy's shoes were not touching the ground. Hence he was a vehicle and had a right to the right-hand side of the road.

Judge Hunter ordered Driver Workman to pay Vehicle Maas $1,781 damages.

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