Magistrate’s Court WOMAN FINED £15 FOR INTOXICATED DRIVING

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28620, 24 June 1958, Page 9

Magistrate’s Court WOMAN FINED £15 FOR INTOXICATED DRIVING

The import restrictions and the resulting shortage of liquor had caused a married woman to drink beer after the gin had run out at a party and this had affected her to a greater extent than she realised when she went out in the cold night air, said Mr A. D. Holland. He was speaking in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on behalf of Jean Marion Slatter, aged 45, who was fined £l5 when she pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a car in Breezes road when under the influence of drink or drugs on June 22. Mr L. N. Ritchie, S.M. was on the bench. Sergeant E. S. Tuck said that about 3 a.m. two constables saw a small car being driven by Slatter in an erratic manner. It was chased by the police car and when stopped Slatter was found to be under the influence of liquor and had great difficulty in getting out of the driver’s seat. She was accompanied by her husband and admitted having two gins and two beers. She was examined by a doctor and found unfit to drive. She was not placed in the cells and was admitted to bail immediately. She had no previous convictions. Mr Holland said that Mrs Slatter’s husband had not been driving because he had no licence. She was tired and though the driving was erratic it had not been dangerous. Her condition was largely due to having to drink beer, which she was not used to. “I am not so sure that I should not inflict the ordinary penalty, not withstanding that you are a woman,” said the Magistrate. “A woman driver under the influence can cause just as much damage as a man but I will take into consideration what your counsel has said.” Slatter’s licence was cancelled and she was disqualified from obtaining another for 18 months. USED AXE IN SHOP

Leighton Lewis Anderson, aged 27 (Mr D. W: Russell), who pleaded guilty to two charges of breaking and entering and one of theft, was remanded to June 27 for sentence and a probation officer’s report.

Sergeant E. S. Tuck said Anderson admitted that about 2.25 a.m. on April 13 he broke into the shop of F. W. Thrower, jewellers, 417 Colombo street by using an axe and smashing a plate glass window after an attempt at breaking in the rear door had been unsuccessful. Jewellery valued at £l5l 10s 6d had been taken and damage amounting to £l5 3s 4d had been done to the shop. Anderson was interviewed by the police in Auckland and jewellery valued at £lO4 17s 6d w r as found in his possession. Damage amounting to £25 Os 9d had been done to Stock.

Anderson also admitted breaking and entering Lillian Models at 473 Colombo street on February 2’through a rear window and taking about £5 in cash and a number of dresses from a rack. Later he went back and put all the dresses back except a lemon one which he kept for a while and then burnt This was valued at £ll 10s. Anderson had been drinking in Bonner’s Tourist Hotel in Moorhouse avenue. He broke into the private bar through a false ceiling on April 10, said Sergeant Tuck. He took about £5 in cash and a bottle of whisky valued at £1 10s. Anderson said that he had been drinking heavily at the time. He had no previous convictions. BREAKING AND ENTERING Raymond Livingstone, aged 29 (Mr R. de Goldi), was remanded to June 27 when he pleaded guilty to two charges of breaking and entering the warehouse of C. R. Sanders in Coventry street on two occasions and to stealing a .22 rifle valued at £27 6s. the property of the Army Department. Senior-Detective J. B. McLean said on June 2 the police received information that an intruder had been seen in C. R. Sanders’ premises. The warehouse was surrounded by police and a tall figure was seen disappearing. Livingstone was later found by Detective Wallace in the vicinity. When a search was made of Livingstone’s room an immersion heater and flex were found.

Livingstone admitted stealing the rifle from the armoury at the Papanui High School by forcing open a padlock. He was single and had not been employed for some time. He had 13 previous convictions, some of which were for dishonesty, said Senior-Detec-tive McLean. LEGAL AID REQUESTED

Murray Dunstan Brown, aged 18. an inmate of Paparua Prison, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Morris Mcknight. a warder at the prison, on June 11, was remanded to June 30. Brown requested legal aid as he said he had been wrong-

fully accused. “You have been in Borstal and

were transferred to Paparua Prison because of your conduct. Were you wrongfully accused on these other occasions?” asked the Magistrate. “I will have to go into the circumstances to see if you are eligible for legal aid and that the country’s money is not being spent on a wild goose chase. I will have to be convinced that it is not a flippant application.” FINED FOR FIGHTING John Donnelly, aged 20 (Mr C. S. Thomas) and Taki Moana Horua, aged 22 were each fined £5 on a charge of fighting in Hereford street on June 21. Horua was also fined £5 for using obscene language in a public place. Sergeant E. S. Tuck said that about 2.45 p.m. a constable’s attention was drawn to a group ot persons on the footpath outside the Shades Hotel. He found -the two defendants, both of whom had been drinking, fighting. Donnelly had only been a short time out of Borstal and an allegation that he might have had something to do with the theft of some rings had upset him, Mr Thomas said. In view of his past he was prepared to defend himself.’ The fight had just started when the police arrived. Harry McDonald, aged 18, and Sam Manawatu, aged 17, were each fined £5 for fighting in Cathedral square on June 21. Both pleaded guilty. Sergeant E. S. Tuck said a constable saw the two defendants fighting near the Tivoli Theatre. Both were slightly under the influence of liquor when taken into custody. REMANDED Francis Bernard Basan, aged 31 a workman (Mr B. J. Drake) was remanded to June 30 on a charge of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drink or drugs on June 2, 1958. Further charges of being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drink or. drugs on June 9 and of having no driver’s licence and no warrant of fitness, were adjourned to the same date. Henry Peter Donaldson, aged 53 (Mr W. F. Brown) was remanded to June 30 on a charge of driving under the influence of drink or drugs in Lincoln road on June 21. Bail was allowed at £25 with one surety of £25. William Gordon Moore, aged 35, was remanded to June 30 on a charge of driving under the influence of drink or drugs in Lincoln road on June 21. Bail was allowed at £25 with one surety of £25. Gordon Robert Brandish, aged 17, and Brian Francis O’Donnell aged 18, were remanded to «J une 30 on a charge of unlawfully taking a motor truck, the property of Frederick Jones, on June 21. Raymond Reginald Piercy, aged 19, was remanded to June 30 on a charge of being idle and disorderly in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. Neil Herbert Rae, aged 33, a carpenter (Mr R. B. Shand) was remanded to June 30 on a charge of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs on June 15. Bail was granted at £25 with one surety of £25. A charge of having no warrant of fitness was adjourned to the same date. (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) DRIVER SENTENCED Colin Keith Richard Ewart, aged 42, a shoe factory operative, was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment when he appeared on a charge of driving a car on the road from Governor’s Bay to Christchurch on June 2 while under the influence of drink. Ewart (Mr J. G. Leggat) pleaded not guilty to the charge His licence was cancelled and he was disqualified from obtaining another for 18 months. His licence was endorsed for three years.

John Frederick Brockhurst said he was motor-cycling up the hill from Governor’s Bay at 6.40 p.m. on June 2. When he was within 15ft of a light-coloured car in front of him it accelerated and drove from one side of the road to the other and round a blind corner, narrowly missing the safety railings. Witness followed around the corner and saw that the car had crashed into a bank at a U-tum, on the correct side of the road. He offered to call a break-down truck but the driver of the car refused. Witness considered the driver had had too much liquor to drive, especially on that road. Witness went to Christchurch and telephoned the police. Constable Neil Francis Smith said he had gone to the scene of the accident from Lyttelton a’ 8 pun. and had seen the defendant sitting in his car and revving the engine. He had had to use force to get him intd' the police car. Dr. P. A. M. Heath said he had

examined the defendant at Lyttelton and his condition then could have been the result of liquor consumed within the previous hour. When he asked how much the accused had drunk thai day the reply was: “A of a lot.” ASSAULTED FATHER A man whose name was ordered to be suppressed appeared on a charge of assaulting his 77-year-old father on June 14. He was released on a suspended sentence for two years on the condition that he take out a prohibition order and adhere to it for that period.