"VERY BAD CASE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 171, 21 July 1936, Page 11

"VERY BAD CASE."

DRUNK AT WHEEL.

DRIVER FINED £75

| GIRL'S LIFE IMPERIL! ED,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRIS rCHURCH, Monday

After knocking down a cyclist and injuring a girl while passing a stationary tramcar, Stanley Steen Middleton, driver of a milk van, was detained by a motorman and conductor of a tram until he was arrested. He appeared on remand in the Magistrate's Court tliis morning on a charge of being intoxicated in charge of a, motor van and pleaded guilty. He was lined £75 and ordered to pay costs. His licensc was cancelled and endorsed, and he was prohibited from obtaining one for two years. In outlining the circumstances SubInspector Mac Lean said accused had taken a great deal of liquor and was in an advanced state of drunkenness. He was_ driving a. milk motor van down Ferry Road on the evening of July 10 and had knocked over a cyclist, almost cutting the cycle in two. If accused had entered another plea he would, have called evidence to show that lie was travelling at fifty miles an hour. Accused then swerved past a stationary tram, the sub-inspector continued, and in doing so he struck a girl who was just dismounting. The conductor saw the van approaching and shouted, "Look out"' The girl pressed against the tram, but the tail of the van struck her hips, injuring her. Xo bones were, broken. Violent in Cell. Middleton was most violent when placed in a cell. He had never been before the Court previously, but the sub-inspector understood that he was addicted to liquor. Counsel said the accused was a married man, aged 33, with three children. He had been manager of a dairy farm at Sumner for the past nine years. He drove a. truck' which was necessary for his business, but he had never had an accident before. On the day in question Middleton commenced work at 4 a.m., did a full day's work and had no tea. Just before going to town he had one glass of whisky and two glasses of beer. He was in a poor state of health and it seemed that lie was in a state of health in which drink had a serious effect. Middleton had endeavoured to pass the tram before it stopped, find it seemed that he had committed a very grave error of judgment. "It seems to the Court that these cases are steadily forcing a position in which legislation will have to be passed removing any chance of fines in these matters," said Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M.' in imposing the fine. "If a man takes liquor and commits an aggravated assault of some kind or other, there is no option, but these cases seem in a category by themselves, why I do not know. Very shortly the Court will have to treat these matters with no option, but I do not wifeli to have to take this stand yet. This is really a very bad case, and one finds difficulty in adjusting the penalty to the gravity of offence."