MESSAGES TO POLICE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 22, 21 October 1937, Page 6

MESSAGES TO POLICE

Drunken Motorist On Hutt Road SUBSTANTIAL FINE Defendant, Charles M illiarn Chisholm, printer’s machinist, aged 43, Kilbirnie, was lucky he'was not before the court on a charge of manslaughter or something similar, said Senior-Sergeant H C. D. Wade in the Magistrate’s Court, Petone, yesterday, when Chisholm was fined £3O and costs and his driving licence cancelled for 18 months for being intoxicated while in charge of a car on the Hutt Road, 1 etone, on Saturday last. Chisholm’s condition was such that lie could have been arrested for drunkenness even without being in charge of a car, said Senior-Sergeant Wade. Chisholm left'Wellington for Petone with two companions who were under the influence of liquor. Chisholm was drunk. He collided with two cars and continued on without stopping. Inspector A. C. Crawford, Transport Department, saw the two cars drawn up on the roadside. The driver of one car, a woman, had been so frightened that she was violently sick. The police received telephone messages from all quarters to the general effect that there was a maniac loose on the Hutt Road, and that if he were not apprehended the hospital would be filled. At Petone Chisholm went to a hotel, and was refused liquor. On leaving he fell over twice. Inspector Crawford and Constable L. A. Honeybone then arrested him- , „ ~ Two charges of “hit .and run’, could have been preferred against Chisholm, but it served no good purpose to bring three charges where one would do. One car hit had four passengers in it and injury or loss of life might have resulted. Chisholm was married, had two children, and was comfortably off. * For Chisholm, Mr. T. G. Taylor said one incident could possibly account for the series detailed. Chisholm had to pass a car proceeding slowly. He pulled out to pass and a car approached from Petone. He had to go into line again quickly and felt a slight bump. . He thought the oncoming car had hit his vehicle, and as it did not stop Chisholm proceeded on. Chisholm was not addicted to drink. He left his work at 2 a.m. on Saturday and had little to eat during the day. He went to Petone to arrange an outing for his wife and family. He was arrested before any great harm was done. His fall on leaving the hotel was due to being pushed by the crowd, who were leaving at closing time. Chisholm had not been before the court before, even for a by-law breach. His wife said that iu 16 years married life he had only once before been the worse for liquor. He was not. a callous young man who had been drinking, at a_ dance but a mature man who realised bis responsibilities. From the history of the case it was much worse than there had been at Petone before, said the magistrate. The only worse case there had been on the court circuit was one at Carterton where defendant was charged under the amended Act of 1936 with failure to stop after an accident. The penalty therein provided was up to five years’ imprisonment. This, defendant was sentenced to three months’ jail, a penalty confirmed by the Full Court. Chisholm was fortunate is not being charged under that same section. Chisholm had not only been intoxicated. but actually drunk. Under the circumstances he had seriously to consider whether Chisholm should not go to jail. In view of his good record’ and that he was not an habitual drinker a substantial fine would suffice.

Chisholm was allowed to pay the fine in an immediate instalment of £lO and the balance at £lO a month.