There has to be a first for everything. As soon as they realized that cars could go fast they put rules in place to kill our fun. I’m joking, of course. With cars just becoming common, Los Angeles, California was a hotbed for lead foots and wild women.
One of these wild women was famous silent film star Bebe Daniels. Bebe was a speedster from the start. She had been caught for speeding many times before, but was always let off due to her friends in high places. At this time there was a judge by the name of John Belshazzar Cox presiding over the Orange County area who would notoriously put anyone going over 50mph in jail! Bebe went flying along in her Marmon Roadster and was picked up along a quiet country road for going 72 mph, quite fast at that time.
Since she was not in LA, her Uncle Jack (the man who usually bailed her out of tricky situations) was not able to help her. Bebe was sentenced to 10 days in the county jail and a large fine. Being that she was a particularly famous Hollywood star, the whole situation attracted a lot of attention, which Judge Cox loved. Not only was Bebe a Hollywood star, she was the first woman convicted of speeding in Orange County!
Bebe went to jail in style. An LA based furniture company furnished her cell. She kept a guest book and gave lots of interviews, just like the speedy star she was! When the ten days were over, Judge Cox signed her guest book, gave her a bouquet of flowers and sent her on her way in a friendly manner.
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