GIFT FOR POLICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 141, 17 June 1941, Page 8

GIFT FOR POLICE

BOTTLES OP WHISKY

MOTORIST SENT TO GAOL

(0.C.) WHANOAREI, this day Parking his car practically in middle of the road, John Peter HeLennan (53). farmer, of Kauri walked into the Whangarei Police Station with two bottles of whisky under his arm as a present for the police. This was the story told h> the Whangarei Court this morning when McLennan paid for his hospitality by being sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment with hard labour on* charge of being in a state of int/ww tion while in charge of a car.

Sergeant Grainger said McLennan was well known among the pnlw men. and he had brought two bottles? of whisky for them because the? were 'good fellows." McLennan had been well under the influence. He was a good-natured, affable type <rf man. McLennan had twice beenbefore the Court for similar offences.' the last occasion being in 1934, when his license had been cancelled fS three years.

Mr. D. L. Ross, for McLennan, said McLennan belonged toaweil! known and respected family and was a man of sterling character and weft known for his generosity. In this case he was the victim of his own good nature, said Mr. Ross. The whisky had been unopened, and he had merely wished to make a wesent to the policemen he knew. The doctor's certificate was not damaging. and was not such as would warrant a term of imprisonment. period of seven years had elapsed since his last offence, and surely this time should tell in his favour McLennan had reached an age when a term of imprisonment would leave its mark on him to a greater extent than on a younger man. Mr. Ross appealed to the magistrate to impose a fine rather than a term of imprisonment.

' Despite all that Mr. Ross has ably said, it is clear on the evidence that you were in a considerable state of intoxication when you were driving a car," said Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M.. to McLennan. Two previous convictions had not prevented McLennan from again committing the offence, and he had no alternative but to convict him and sentence him to imprisonment.

McLennan's license was snspenr ded and he was declared unfit to a license for three years.