Andrew Lancaster
When Driving 37.5 MPH Got You A Month In Jail And Cost You Equivalent Of $17K Fine
The chauffer of one of America’s wealthiest men received a huge punishment more than a century ago for driving his car a little fast
Driving safely is always of the utmost importance. With hundreds of millions of automobiles driving on American roads there are numerous accidents every day. The need for such caution goes back to when cars first began appearing. Obviously, laws and punishments for driving infractions have evolved over time, but they could be especially harsh in the early days of motor vehicle operation, including one incident more than a century ago where the chauffeur for one of the wealthiest men in the country received a 30-day jail sentence and an enormous fine for driving 37.5 MPH.
Philanthropist Frank Jay Gould was the son of renowned financier Jay Gould. The progeny became successful in his own right, owning a string of casinos and hotels along the French Riviera. However, he got into the headlines when he was a young man because of the lead-footed nature of his chauffeur.
William W. Everett drove professionally for the younger Gould. In 1904, cars were still a relatively new development, with the roads still having way more horses than motorized…
