ALLEGED INTOXICATED MOTORIST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 101, 27 January 1928, Page 3

ALLEGED INTOXICATED MOTORIST

YOUNG FARMER CHARGED

Francis John Douglas, a farmer, aged 21, pleaded not guilty before Mr. R. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to being in charge of a motor-car while in a state of intoxication in Willis Street on Saturday night. Accused, for whom Mr. H. I' 1 . O’Leary appeared, also pleaded not guilty to driving liis car in a manner which, under the circumstances, might have been dangerous to some person,- and to using indecent language. Dr. A. E. Park, who.was the first witness, said that at the request of the police he examined accused at the police station at 1.20 a.m., a couple of hours alter lie had been arrested, His tongue was badly coated and liis eves bloodshot. His breath smelt of liquor and lie was very excited. He walked the chalk line in a satisfactory manner, but he was not quite sober. ‘‘l do not think,” said witness, “that he was then in a fit state to drive a car, or Could have been when arrested.” Dr. C. R. Childs said he saw Douglas at the police station about an hour or so before the former witness. The accused talked coherently and was quite nimble on liis feet. Mis breath smelt ol liquor, but he wgs by no means drunk at the time. The Magistrate; Would you have let him drive you home 7. Witness: 1 Was thinking ot that myself after I left liiiii. . 1 think he may have been able to drive all right, but ot course it would have been risky. He had been drinking and was very excitable. He was not, however, drunk. Tramway Inspector Leonard said that about 10.40 p.m. on the night ill question accused drove liis car in a dangerous manner past a traincar outside the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel. Later Douglas came back, and was then spoken to by Traffic Inspector Walker. Traffic Inspector Walker said that when he asked Douglas to produce Ins license the latter became insulting and most abusive. He used indecent language, and was being “egged” on by some young men who had been passengers in the car. Douglas refused to produce his license, though he later showed it to Constable Warren. Eventually accused, who was in an intoxicated condition, was arrested. The case was adjourned until this morning. .