MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) CAR DRIVER FINED Phyllis Guthrie, aged 56, a widow (Mr R. W. Edgley), pleaded guilty to a charge that while under the influence of drink to such an extent as to be incapable of proper control of a motor-vehicle she drove a motor-car in Deans avenue on October 3. She was fined £lO, her driver’s licence was cancelled, and she was disqualified from obtaining another for 12 months. Sub-Inspector J. C. Fletcher said that Traffic Officer E. McJarrow saw so car being driven with difficulty from Deans avenue into Bartlett street at 6.35 p.m. on October 3. He saw that the driver, Mrs Guthrie, had too much liquor, and he took her to the Central Police Station. “She was quite happy then—happier than she is now. She was wamined by Dr. F. L. Scott, who found her quite unfit to drive,” said Sub-Inspector Fletcher. Mr Edgley said that Mrs Guthrie had been to an afternoon wedding. Like so many others, she thought she was quite capable of driving. An elderly man was with her, and she had to take him to his home. No damage was done, and the only one tp suffer was Mrs Guthrie herself. MOTORIST SENT TO PRISON Arthur William Adams, aged 35, a storeman, pleaded guilty to a charge that while under the influence of drink to such an extent as to be incapable of proper control of a motor-vehicle, he drove a car in Humphreys drive on October 10. He also pleaded guilty to having no warrant of fitness.

On the first charge Adams was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, his driver’s licence was cancelled, and he was disqualified from obtaining another for 18 months. On the second charge he was convicted and discharged. ' Sub-Inspector J. C. Fletcher said that the police were notified at 11 p.m. on October 10 that the driver of a car involved in an accident was very much the worse for liquor. Adams had swerved across the road and hit a car coming in the opposite direction, damaging it extensively. He had had far too much liquor. Two of his passengers were so much under the influence of liquor that they were arrested for drunkenness and had been dealt with by the Court just a little earlier. Adams was examined by Dr. F. D. Scott and found to be unfit to drive. He was somewhat neurotic. He had not previously been in trouble. Adams said he had been a prisoner of war for three years and a half, and his nerves were affected. He received a war pension. He had had a few beers but did not think his condition was due to tnat. “I got a bash on the nose in the accident,” he said. If Adams was in receipt of a pension it must have been impressed on him that he should leave liquor alone, said the Magistrate. The evidence was that he was drunk. There were no redeeming features about the case. REFORMATIVE DETENTION Edgar Arthur Barbarel, aged 45, a school caretaker (Mr J. G. Leg gat), appeared for sentence on a charge of indecently assaulting a girl on September 22. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months’ reformative detention. As counsel had said, it was indeed a tragedy that a man with a good record should be before the Court for such an offence, said the Magistrate. It was a bad case of its kind. The accused had bribed the girl’s young brother to get him out of the way and then indecently assaulted the girl against her will. It was a deliberate act and there was no question of sudden impulse. FINED ON TWO CHARGES Alfred Benatin James, aged 35, a carpenter, was fined 12s 6d for casting offensive matter in Cathedral square on October 10, and £1 for being found drunk. REMANDED Gordon Bruce Woodhead, aged 17, a deck boy, was remanded to October 14 on a charge of stealing Bd, the property of George Stribling, on October 11. He was allowed bail on his own recognisance of £25 and one surety of £25. “If the bail is not taken up, he is to be kept apart from adult prisoners,” said the Magistrate. Sub-Inspector J. C. Fletcher said that the youth was a problem. The Child Welfare Department would have nothing to do with him. He apparently had descended to taking money from milk bottles. (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, SM) INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE Aubrey Frederick William Douglas, aged 70, a hotel porter (Mr H. S. Thomas), appeared for sentence on charges of indecently assaulting a girl aged 13, and assaulting a girl aged 12. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years if called upon. Mr Thomas said that Douglas had already been 16 days in custody. He had a clear record up to this and would not offend again. The girls received no harm.