FOURTH OFFENCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 12

FOURTH OFFENCE

Intoxication In Charge Of Car COUNTY COUNCILLOR BEFORE COURT By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, April 4. Donald McLean, farmer, Amberley, a member of the Kowai County Council, pleaded guilty before Justices of the Peace this morning to a charge of being intoxicated in charge of a motorcar at Spring Creek on Saturday afternoon. The police stated that it was his fourth offence, the other three having been in Christchurch, two in 1927 and one in 1931. McLean arrived at Blenheim from Amberley on Saturday at noon with a quantity of liquor in the car. He was already under the influence of liquor. He sought to be supplied at Spring Creek, but the barman refused, as the accused was driving a car. McLean became offensive and aimed a blow at the man, who advised him to leave. In August, 1927, McLean was fined £lO, and four months later he was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. On a third conviction in 1931 he was fined £lO and his licence was cancelled for two years. Counsel for the defendant, in appealing for leniency, said that McLean proposed seeking re-election to the county council and imprisonment would ruin his chances. The bench, in imposing a fine of £3O and two years’ 'disqualification, said that the defendant was apparently a person of some service to the community. A term of imprisonment would cause him to suffer considerably in view 'of the approaching local body elections. FINES AND CANCELLATION OF LICENCES Four Christchurch Cases By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, April 4. Six men were charged to-day with intoxication while in charge of cars. At Christchurch George Manifold Wilton, dental mechanic, aged 37, was fined £3O, his licence was cancelled and endorsed, and he was declared unfit to hold another for three years. Thomas Svdney ' McGuire, labourer, aged 25, was fined £lO and his licence was cam celled for 12 months. William Hayes, farmer, aged 52, was fined £2O and his licence was cancelled for twelve months. Philip Bernard Percasky, labourer, aged 22, was fined £lO and his licence was cancelled for twelve months. At Lyttelton John Francis Smith and Sydney Herbert Green, labourers, who were jointly charged, were remanded until Wednesday. CHARGE ADMITTED AT DUNEDIN By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, April 4. In the Magistrates’ Court Sydney Tasman Smart admitted being in charge of a car while in a state of intoxication. The police stated that Smart, was involved in a collision on the Main South Road, near Otokia. When a' constable arrived on tlie scene Smart became pugnacious and used obscene language. Smart was fined £lO and prohibited from driving for a year, and was also fined £1 for using obscene language. The magistrate indicated that he would be permitted to apply for a certificate to drive within a no-lieence area after a lapse of six months.