MOTOR CAR CASE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13597, 4 December 1909, Page 2

MOTOR CAR CASE.

ALLEGED EXCESSIVE SPEED

John Brourton was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with, on October 13th, having driven a motor car along the Riccarton road at a speed wbioh was dangerous to the public. Mr Johnston appeared, fox defendant and pleaded not guilty. ' Constable Hannifin said that about 4 p.m. on Labour Day be saw a motor car No. 735, travelling past the Church corner at Riccerton at a speed of from 20 to 25 miles an hour. There was a church picnic being held at Ricoarton that day, and volunteer manceuvres at Yaldhurst. Witness saw defendant the following day, and he admitted he was in charge of the car. /There were a large number ot Eeople standing at the place mentioned, and he considered the pace was dangerous to the public. To Mr Johnston: He noticed a car driven by Humphreys pass somewhere > Keen Division and Cutlers roads, i There were numerous oars on the road, and some were very big and were go- j in r at the rate of from 30 to 40 miles an' hour. He took the numbers of j some of the cars that went past him at an excessive speed. E O'Brien said he saw a car with the number mentioned passing the Church comer at about 20 miles an hour, there were a large number of cars go- , in" past at the time. To Mr Johnston: As far as he could say that was the number on the oar.. "Mr Johnston said that the previous ■witnesses were absolutely mistaken, for the car was not travelling at anything like 20 miles an hour. It was a very small car and when defendant came to the Church corner he slowed down. A large number of cars passed defendant's car on the road, and it therefore could not have heen travelling at a fast pace. The constable had made an honest mistake in the number. •The defendant said that he was.returning from the manoeuvres on the date mentioned, and had two passengers. The car's number was 735, and it was only built to carry the driver and one passenger, so that he wos overloaded. The greatest speed he ever got out of the car was on Birdhngs Flat, some time previously., and that was 2o miles an hour. There were only two in the car on that occasion. His car was the fifth to leave Yaldhurst, and before he reached the Church corner about fifteen other cars which let: later parsed him. Coming; down tn Yaldhurst and Riccarton roads he slowed down at the Coach and Church oor ners. He was not travelling more than eight miles an hour. R. Baker, a member of the Civil Service Rifles, -who was in the car, said that he first got into Humphrey's car and then was ordered into defendant's car. The car travelled at a moderate pace throughout and slowed down at the Church corner. The defendant I drovo most carefully throughout. The Magistrate said there seemed to be some doubt as to the car, and he would give defendant the benefit of that doubt. The case would be dismissed.