HIT THE TOWN HALL

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 108, 3 November 1926, Page 7

HIT THE TOWN HALL

DRUNK IN A MOTOR-CAR

LABOURER BEFORE THE COURT.

Charged with being in charge of a motorcar in Mercer street while in a state of intoxication, William M'Crea, a labourer, aged 24, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Messrs. J. Staples and A. A. Gower, J.P.'s. He also admitted using obscene language, and assaulting Frederick William M'Courtie. Senior-Sergeant Lander .told the Court that Traffic-Inspectors M'Courtie and Walker were in Mercer street at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon when they saw a car driven by the accused cross the street from the parking place, mount the footpath, and hit the Town Hall. They went over and spoke to the accused, and he then used obscene language, and struck M'Courtie. He was in a drunken condition. With assistance, he was taken in another car to the Taranaki Street Police Station, where he had remained in custody until this morning. For the accused, Mr. B. J. Dolan said that he had no previous convictions. He had never driven a car before, nor had he a driver's license. • M'Crea had had five or six drinks_ with a friend, and had then sat in his friend's car at the parking place while the other man went away tor a while. "He started to fiddle round "with the car," said counsel. "The accused says he thought M'Courtie was a taxidriver, as their uniforms are much the same. He may have used the language, but he has no recollection of it." Counsel asked for leniency on account of the accused's youth and his previous good record. Mr. Gower: "These charges all seem very serious." Counsel pointed out that no one was i hurt, and that none of the public heard I the language. The accused was not driving the car. He had not even been left lin charge of the vehicle. Mr. Gower: "The only things in his, i favour are his age and the fact that he has ' pleaded guilty.

On the assault charge, M'Crea was fined £2, in default 7 dayr imprisonment, and for using the language, he was fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. On the third charge he was fined £3, in default seven days' imprisonment.