MANY CHARGES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 86, 21 January 1938, Page 6

MANY CHARGES

MOTORISTS BEFORE THE COURT.

FIRST TRAFFIC BREACH CASES,

CONVICTIONS WITHOUT PENALTY

There was a long list of charges against motorists for hearing by Mr H. Morgan, S.M., at the first sitting of the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court for 1938 this morning.

Among these charges were two relating to breaches of the parking regulations in Ashburton and they were treated by the Magistrate as a warning. Motorists Charged. Robert Hillson Monson was charged with having failed to keep to the left of the centre line when driving a car and with having driven without due care and attention. By letter he pleaded guilty. It was stated that when attempting to go over an intersection on East Street, he was dazzled by reflections on the wet street and collided with a motor car. Defendant had admitted the blame. He had smelt of whisky ; but his state did not warrant his arrest.

Defendant w r as finfed £3 109 with 16s costs on the second charge and the first charge was withdrawn. He was ordered to pay 14s 9d witnesses’ expenses. His license was suspended for 14 days. Arthur James Lilley was charged with having driven a car that did not have a warrant of fitness and with having driven without exercising due care 'and attention.

He pleaded guilty to both charges. It.was stated that defendant started to drive across the road in a curve from a parking place and was struck by another vehicle. He did not take the precaution to see if there was traffic coming before he pulled away from the parking place. Defendant was fined £2' 10s with 11s costs on the second charge and on the other he was fined 10s with 11s costs. Frank Loversidge Worsdale was charged with having failed to give way to traffic on his right in East Street. Defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £3 10s, with 10s cost 9. It was stated that there was a collision at an intersection, one vehicle being overturned. Charged with having failed to give way to traffic on her right and with having driven a car when, she was not the holder of a. driver’s license, Elizabeth Jamison did not appear. It. was stated that defendant was driving along Farm Road, when she drove into a trailer attached to a car at an intersection. She had stated that she had put her foot on the accelerator at the time she put it on the brake..-. Defendant was fined £2 10s with 12s costs on the first charge and was fined 10s, with 129 costs on the second. \ Parking Offences. Matthew Farrell was charged with having stopped his car on the wrong side of West Street. He pleaded guilty. Defendant said that for 25 years parking in West had been "as you like.” Then the Council had issued a warning and he had not seen the paper before he was caught by the Inspector. Farmers had not had time to see the notice in the newspaper. <

The Magistrate questioned the validity of the charge on a technicality: ; ; The Magistrate said he would treat the case as a warning and ordered defendant to pay 12s costs. Philomena Ward was charged with having double-parked. The traffic had been blocked by defendant’s action, it was stated. Defendant was fined £1 with 12s costs.

Sequels to a Collision. Rising out of an accident on the Ashburton Traffic bridge recently several charges were laid against the people concerned. Henry James Martin was charged with having ridden a bicycle that was not equipped with a rear red reflector, with having ridden a bicycle that d*d not have an efficient brake on the. back wheel, and with having ridden a bicycle that did not have a white patch on the rear mudguard. It was stated that the night was very dark, with driving rain. Four young men were riding in pairs when a motor cycle collided with them irom the rear. Annett was the only one not knocked down. The motorist and his pillion rider were not injured. Martin was fined 5s with 12s costs in respect of the absence of a reflector, and was ordered to pay costs 10s in respect of the other charges. George Edward' MciLintock was charged with having ridden a bicycle at night on the bridge without a lighted lamp being attached. Defendant was fined 10s, with 12s costs. Cecil Annett was charged with four similar offences. He did not appear. A statement that the bicycle was a racing machine was entered by the police. Annett was fined 7s 6d and 12s costs on the charge relating to the lamp, and 5s with 12s costs in respect of the reflector charge. Gn the others he was convicted and discharged. Breach of Order. George Shellock, who was charged with being a person subject to a piodiibition. order, he did procure liquoi, did not appear.. • Evidence was given by Constable ■ Coatsworth regarding defendant’s drinking at Christmas time, when he was on a “drinking bout.J’ Defenant was fined £1 with 12s costs, in default three days in gaol.

A Case Defended. On a charge of having, driven a motor cycle without due care and attention,' Vernon Frederick Pethig pleaded! not guilty through Mr C. G. DeC. Drury. Constable T. T. Harris stated that at

the scene of a. collision in East Street, lie saw a ski'd mark 72 feet long, made by the motor cycle. The street was 58 feet wide. A motor car pulled away from the kerb and there was a collision.

Mr Drury said the car driver had wrongfully turned across the street in front of the motor cyclist, who had slowed up to such an extent that he was not even knocked off his machine. Defendant said that he was not travelling more than 30 miles an hour when he saw the car coming across the street from behind; a large car. The Magistrate said he could not convict. The movement of the car would deceive oncoming traffic . as to the driver’s intention. The edse would be dismissed.

Poods Licence Breach.

t Gilbert George Cross was' charged with having operated a heavy lorry contrary to the transport regulations.

It was stated that defendant did not fiiave a .licence. He had .carried horses from a .show, and ,had charged railway rates. . Defendant was fined £2 10s, with 10s .costs,, •:

Charge of -Drunkenness, Richard Coughlin was charged with having been fotind drunk and was fined £l, in default three days in gaol. Defendant was allowed a week in -which to pay. Civil! Business. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the ' case of the Ashburton Mail and Guardian Co., Ltd. v. J. H. Catherwood, £4 11s 3d, with £1 os 6d costs. In a judgment summons case, 15. N. King was ordered to pay £3 18s to Tuckers, Ltd., on or before February 28, in default four days in gaol. Juvenile Offender. In the children’s court a lad was charged with having ridden a motor cycle that did not have a warrant of fitness, and with having ridden without due care and attention.

He was admonished and discharged