INTOXICATION CHARGE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 16

INTOXICATION CHARGE

“Did Not Intend To Drive C®r” Dominion Special Service. ' Wanganui, April 4. “I accept defendant’s statement that he did not intend to drive the car and was only technically in charge. I hope that fact will be made known so that the public will not get a wrong impression of the way the court deals with these cases,” commented Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court. Wanganui, to-day when imposing a fine of £5. with costs, on a Maori, Kingi Tarn Tape. He was charged with being found in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car in Polson Street on April 2. Senior-Sergeant L. R. Capp told the court that at 1.25 p.m. on Saturday Constable W. Trask saw Tupe and another Maori under the influence of liquor. The constable’s attention was later drawn to the racing of a motor-car engine, and on investigating lie saw Tupe at the wheel trying to manipulate the. gears. He was brought to the police station and certified by n doctor as being intoxicated. ' Mr. V. B. Willis, for the defence, submitted that the car was 10 years old and required the attention of two men when being started. Tupe was not the driver, but while he sat at the wheel the owner carried out some other manipulation. It was never intended that Tupe should drive. Senior-Sergeant Capp added that the owner of the car was in a similar state of intoxication. When fining Tupe th<* magistrate said he would not cancel his licence.