DRUNK IN CAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 17, 31 October 1938, Page 6

DRUNK IN CAR

MOTORIST FINED £ls. ARREST AFTER A COLLISION. TELEPHONE WIRES BROUGHT •DOWN. The adventures of q young man between Taihape and Hinds on Friday and Saturday were related in the Ashburton Alagistrato’s Court this morning, whom John Drysdale, aged 21 years, a shearer residing at Alexandra, Central Otago, was charged with having been found in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car at Hinds on Saturday. Defendant was fined £ls, in delault one month in gaol with hard labour, and he was ordered to pay expenses. His driver’s licence was cancelled, and he was prohibited from obtaining another for 12 months. He was allowed two nipiith? in which to pay the lino, and was ordered to report regularly to tlie police at Alexandra in the meantime. Air W. H. Rundle, J.P., and Air G. Kelly, J.P., were on the Bench. The Police Notified. Sergeant J. F. Cleary stated that the Ashburton Police were notified at 5.30 o’clock on Saturday from Geraldine tpat there was a man in a drunken state in charge of a car on the Hhids-Rangitata Road. Two constables were sent out from Ashburton, and at 6.30 o’clock, seven miles south of Hinds, they found a car on the side of the road, and two drunk men, one of whom was defendant. The car had hit a culvert indicator and gone on for 14 feet, when it struck a pole, bringing down the telephone wires. It then went for some distance before coming to a halt. AVhen defendant was brought back to Ashburton, Dr. G. I. Aliller was sent for, and an examination was made. The doctor stated that defendant was intoxicated, but the case was not a. bad one, though there were appearances that defendant had boon very drunk a short while before.

Ca*' Acquired in Taihape. Defendant h'ad gone to Taihape to see his grandfather, Sergeant Cleary continued. Ho had been given a Ford car, 16 years old, and this he drove to Wellington on Friday. He travelled on the ferry steamer to Lyttelton, drinking half a bottle of whisky, and having only some biscuits and cheese to eat. When he landed at Lyttelton he took the car round the outskirts of Christchurch, and came on to the Alain South Rqad. At Templeton he stopped and had three beers. Shortly after that he came on a man walking south in search of work. He gave the man a lift. At Rakaia defendant had three more beers, and some food, which, apart from the biscuits and cheese on the boat, was the first he had eaten since he left Taihape. Statement by Counsel. For defendant, who had entered a plea of guilty, Air A r . AY. Russell stated that defendant had travelled steerage on the ferry steamer and bad been very ill on the trip. Knowing that be had to go to Central Otago, defendant had very unwisely taken liquor, • and there was no doubt that he had been in a state of intoxication while in charge of the car. Defendant had never been before the Court previously. In view of the fact that the doctor had said there was no evidence of the state of defendant at the time of the accident, and as the case did not seem to bo as bad a one as some that came before the Court, counsel asked tlint defendant bo treated leniently. Defendant, being a shearer, and moving about the country to his work, needed the car, but, be (counsel) realised that his client must lose- his driver’s licence, which would be a severe handicap to him.

Defendant having boon fined £ls, ATr Russell asked for time for the payment of tho fine.

Sergeant Cleary said he had had a talk with defendant, who appeared to he a decent young man, and had not been in police hands before. The fact that the police did not know anything about him was in his favour. Two months were allowed for payment-. Charge Against Companion. The man whom defendant picked up south of Templeton, and who was also drunk when the police arrived at the accident, was charged with having been found drunk. As he had been in the lock-up since Saturday evening he was convicted and discharged.