INTOXICATED DRIVER

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 10

INTOXICATED DRIVER

GAOL FOR THREE MONTHS

SEQUEL TO CRASH

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day,

A sentence of three months' imprisonment and cancellation of his driving licence was the penalty imposed on Henry Thomas Hansen, labourer, aged 30, after pleading guilty in the Police Court to a charge of being in a state of intoxication. while in charge of a motor-car in Eden Terrace on Saturday afternoon last.

Sub-Inspeptor Fox informed Mr. JP. K. Hunt; S.M., that a rental car driven by Hansen at a speed of about 45 miles an hour crashed into a car containing a young, woman, Miss Violet Thomas, which was parked on the wrong side of the street. Both cars were badly damaged. Miss Thomas was badly cut over one eye and received concussion. She was still in hospital but would be discharged as recovered in a few days. After the accident Hansen was located by a constable in Victoria Street. He was arrested and certified by a doctor as unfit to have charge of a car. .

Counsel for the accused, Mr. Bouisson, said he could not understand how the car was' hired out, as Hansen's companion was in a worse state of intoxication than himself. Hansen ' was a married man with one child. _ His wife was in ill health' and he was on sustenance. .

Mr. Hunt: What! A labourer on sustenance and driving round in a motorcar? ■.■...::■'.'■ •'.''.■■ ■ .' ;

Counsel replied that Hansen had been employed to drive the other man. When the Magistrate passed sentence a weman in', the public part of the court, addressing Hansen's solicitor, cried out: "Can't you do something?''

Mr. Hunt: He. very nearly put a young woman in her grave. That will do. ' •