INTOXICATED IN CAR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 150, 21 March 1939, Page 3

INTOXICATED IN CAR

Ten Days’ Imprisonment Having been intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Upper Willis Street, Wellington, on Saturday night, Phillip Murphy, steel worker, aged 43, was sentenced by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, yesterday to ten days’ imprisonment, and be was prohibited from holding a licence to drive till May, 1940. Sub-Inspector D. J. O'Neill said Murphy’s car swerved while lie was turning from Willis Street into Webb Street and collided with a ear parked in a proper manner. When he alighted his gait was seen to be unsteady, and he was taken to a police station, where a doctor decided he was intoxicated, though the doctor stated it was not a gross ease of intoxication. Mr. M. Neal said on behalf of Murphy that defendant supported his mother and invalid sister, and that the family had been evicted from their home by the decision of a magistrate that greater hardship would have been inflicted on the landlord by his being prevented from living in the house. Defendant had worried over their not having accommodation and had drunk too much, but had had his last drink several hours before the accident.

PASSED 15 INSPECTORS; UNLUCKY WITH NEXT

Intoxicated Mokiist Michael Joseph Gilhooly, aged 34, Petone, who said that he had driven past 15 traffic inspectors before his ear stopped and he was seeen by TrafficInspector A. J. Archer was fined £5 witli costs £l/1/- in the Alagistrates’ Court, Petone, yctserday for being intoxicated. in charge of a car. Alessrs. A. Anderson and A. Coles, justices of the peace, said that they considered the case a borderline one. The prosecutor, Senior-Sergeant H. C. D. AVatle, said that Inspector Archer noticed Gilhooly trying to start his car by the Lower Hutt station at 6.15 p.m. on Saturday. He went over to see if he could assist and found Gilhooly intoxicated. Gilhooly admitted having had five or six drinks at Trenthain racecourse, where he had been employed for a day as a barman. Gilhooly said he had driven in from Trentham. He passed 15 inspectors en route, including one who directed him at the Silverstreani bridge to the Western Hutt Road. He passed and met a good deal of traffic and considered himself quite capable of driving. He had sold his car and did not now want a driver’s licence. The Bench cancelled Gilhooly’s licence for 18 months.