CASE AT GISBORNE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 11

CASE AT GISBORNE

MAN WHO DROVE TO,.ROLICE

STATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.')

GISBORNE, This Day;

A story of how a motorist, Arthur Owen, nad driven a friend to the police station in the early hours of the morning in order to prove that he-was not intoxicated and was quite capable of handling a car was told to Mr. E. L. Walton, SM, m the Magistrate's Court this morning when Owen appeared and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving the car while m a state of intoxication. For the prosecution it was stated that Owen was observed to start off from outside a hotel at 3.15 a.m., the car making a series of short jumps. A constable followed the car, which, he found parked on the wrong side of the road'outside the police station, the accused being in charge. A doctor who.made an examination 45 minutes later said/that the accused was unfit to. driveReplying to a statement that,the accused had seventeen previous convio* lions, Mr. J. S. Wauchdp, his counsel, stated that these were all in connection with 'bookmaking, apart from which Owen had never been before the Court previously. The accused's position, said counsel, was due to an argument and over-confidence when a friend had chaffed him with being drunk. Owen said, he would prove his sobriety by driving to the police station. The Magistrate said that in the circumstances the case would 'be met by a fine of £10 and costs.