Repentant Son

At the home of his friend Anthony Joseph Drexel Paul Jr. in swank Radnor, Pa. where he was spending the shank end of his holiday from Harvard, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. climbed into his La Salle coupe late one night last week, rolled off to a dance in Philadelphia. Just outside town he slambanged into a parked automobile, giving its driver several bruised ribs, a cut on the eye. Charged with assault and battery by automobile, the President's third son was allowed to proceed to his dance by taxicab. Next night he appeared in court to explain that he had been blinded by snow, that when he tramped down on the brake, his car skidded. He was released without bond for a hearing on Jan. 15.

Tall, muscular, 20-year-old Son Franklin entered Harvard in 1933 with one unpunished arrest for speeding already chalked against him. He got off with a dressing down from a traffic officer at Windsor Locks, Conn, that autumn, an other at Union, Conn, the following spring. On an icy street in suburban Boston last March his automobile knocked down 60-year-old Mrs. Daniel P. O'Leary. Authorities excused him for the accident, fined him $20 for using out-of-state license plates beyond the 30-day limit. But Mrs. O'Leary, having suffered many a cut and bruise, started action against the exuberant young motorist in a suit for $25,000 damages.

Last month this high-speed Harvard sophomore made familiar news when, driving to Washington for the Christmas holidays with his brother John, he was arrested near Orange, Conn, for zipping along at 78 m.p.h. over a wet highway, disregarding a red light. By telephone a White House secretary got his trial post-poned until Christmas holidays were over.

Last week, in thoroughly repentant mood, Son Franklin appeared in court, pleaded guilty, paid the minimum fine of $10 & costs ($9.75). Before going off to dinner with the judge, the President's son told newshawks: "My car is laid up until spring. . . . That's the last time I'm going to be seen in court on a charge arising from my use of my car. My father has troubles enough without being bothered by mine."

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