MOTORIST CHARGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 12

MOTORIST CHARGED.

COLLISION AT PAPATOETOE

CAR STRIKES POWER POLE

A motor car salesman, William Frederick Beechey, for whom Mr. E. H. Burton appeared, was the defendant in connection with charges of being intoxicated in charge of a motor car and of dangerous driving, brought in the Otahuhu Police Court before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M. Evidence in the case was concluded yesterday, and the magistrate's decision, was reserved.

The defendant stated that he had driven to Drury on June 19 to negotiate for the sale of a car, and he was accompanied by a man and two women. After interviewing a prospective purchaser the party had some drinks at the local hotel and left Drury again for Auckland; At Wiri bridge they were overtaken by a service car. Having -crossed the bridge, the defendant attempted to pass the service car and went on his wrong side of the road. The car skidded and collided with a power pole. He and one of the women were thrown out. His injuries were, however, slight and he was able almost immediately to attend to one woman, who seemed' in a serious condition. Subsequent to the accident the defendant collapsed and was a hospital patient for ten days. He denied that lip had staggered on the side of the road, but admitted he may have limped on account of a bruise to his leg. To Sergeant Lambert: The women had some champagne, but were not drunk. One had been ill on the homeward journey on account of smoking a cigar. He could not say how many drinks were obtained. Mr. Burton submitted that, although a doctor was in attendance soon after the accident, the police made no attempt to have the defendant examined. The magistrate, in reserving his decision, said there seemed to have been an atmosphere of looseness about the conduct of the persons in the car.