HAD SOME BEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 3

HAD SOME BEER.

TRUCK DRIVER FINED. COLLISION WITH CYCLIST. MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT. '"You know what people think about these cases—many of the public are of the opinion that offenders should be sent to gaol." said Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., in the Police Court this morning before fining a labourer £25 for being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor truck in St. Paul Street on Xew Year's Eve. The offender in this case was Albert Richard Edwards, agel 37, for whom Mr. Aekins appeared. Edwards pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Fox said that at 7.30 p.m. on December 31 Edwards was driving u|» Symonds Street, and when turning into St. Paul Street his truck collided with a cyclist who was proceeding down Symonds Street. "Edwards' speed was moderate, but his course was somewhat unsteady, - ' said Mr. Fox. "He pulled his truck up very promptly but the cycle was under the front of the truck. The cyclist was severely injured about the head and is still detained in hospital suffering with concussion. However, he is now out of danger. Edwards, in a general way, showed signs of having taken liquor, and although not drunk he was definitely intoxicated. A married man with two children, I understand he is in rather straitened circumstances. We cannot say that the collision was due to any negligence on his part. His explanation was that his attention was attracted by a tram and he did not notice the cyclist." Counsel said Edwards was a man of good character who had never been in trouble previously. He was not a man addicted to liquor, but on that morning he had two or three handles of beer and a sipiilar number in the afternoon, "it is a very mild case, and I hope your Worship won't penalise him for ' the accident, which rnisrht not have been duo to any fault of his," Mr. Aekins said. Edwards was fined £25 and his license was cancelled for six months. He was allowed two weeks to pay the fine.