MEMBER OF BALLET BEFORE COURT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 186, 4 May 1937, Page 11

MEMBER OF BALLET BEFORE COURT

Car Crashes Into Pole FINE ON INTOXICATION CHARGE FOLLOWS Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, May 3. If there is one member of the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet who has good cause to remember his visit to Dunedin, it Is Thadee Slavinsky. In company with Maurice Kendrick Whale, Lyttelton, he went for a motor-drive round the peninsula yesterday afternoon to see the sights of Dunedin, but there was a disastrous finale to the spin when he drove the ear into a telegraph pole on the Anderson's Bay Road as he was returning. Both men were taken to hospital, where they received medical attention, and this morning they made their appearance in the Magistrate’s Court to answer charges of being in charge of a motorcar while intoxicated. Mr. C. J. L. White appeared for both accused. “At 6 p.m. yesterday the Russian accused was arrested,” said SeniorSergeant Packer. “He was then absolutely drunk.” The other accused had come from the north and had met the Russian at an hotel where they were both staying. Whale hired a motor-car and invited his new friend to go for a drive round the peninsula to see the sights of Dunedin. Nothing seemed to be known of either until they reached the Caledonian Hotel on their way home. It was outside the hotel that they crashed into the pole. Both were taken into the hotel and later to hospital, where a doctor issued a certificate that Slavinsky was then drunk. The Russian had been driving the car at the time of the accident Whale’s actions showed that he was also drunk, because he had asked bis companion, who was a stranger to the city and an unlicensed driver, to take charge of a high-powered car. As a result of the accident the car was badly smashed. Mr. White intimated that the Russian pleaded guilty. It was, he said, a disastrous drive for the Russian, whose company had left town this morning without him to catch u ship for Australia, where they were to enter upon an extensive tour. Slavinsky now had to 11,y to Wellington in order to join the other members of the company before" they sailed for.’Australia, lie had received chest injuries which would affect him iu his work. Whale also pleaded guilty. “The circumstances iu regard to the Russian are peculiar,” said Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M. “He has suffered bis own punishment. I ghall take into consideration the fact that he is leaving New Zealand and he will be fined £3. Whale will be fined £lO and other expenses (£l/7/6) and his licence will be suspended for six' months.”