ROAD-HOGGING

Evening Star, Issue 17324, 12 April 1920, Page 6

ROAD-HOGGING

A BAD CASE. I IN A YELLOW FORD. I " I have not seen a worse case of road hogging," said one witness this morning at the Police Court in the case in which Kennedy Brown Fergusson was charged with (on March 13, at Warrington) driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the .public. Defendant did not appear, but forwarded a letter in which ho pleaded guilty and appealed for leniency. Sub-inspector Mathieson eaid he was sorry defendant had not appeared, because it was a particularly bad case. It occurred the day of a motor sports meeting at 'Warrington. The driver of the car was drunk, together with the other occupants of the car—a yellow Ford. Mr W. B. Taverner said he was one of the last to leave Warrington, and was driving slowly along a particularly bad part of the road, when defendant' came along behind at an excessive speed. Witness would say the speed was between 25 and 30 miles an hour. A eafe speed on such a road would bo 10 miles per hour. It wa3 a particularly 'busy day, and there was a lot of traffic on the road. Defendant was travelling on the wrong side of the road, and pulled off when he neared witness's car. Had he not dons so, there would have been a bad smash. As it was, ho struck,, the mudguard of the car and damaged it. Witness heard nrterw-ardis that defendant had struck other cars. On arrival in town witness reported the matter to the police. William Wright said the road was ono of the worst he knew. He thought defendant was travelling at 25 miles an hour. He had feen oh the road practically all his life, but had not seen a worse case of road-hogging. Whether it was the temperament of defendant or his condition that made him drive/ in such a manner witness did not know; but ho would say candidly that with such a t-vpc of man driving on the road ho would never feel safe. The Magistrate said the evidence showed the case to be a bad one of reckless driving. The only cheek the Court had in dealing with such irresponsible individuals was to impose the maximum penalty, but it would be much more effective if there was power to cancel the licenses of offenders. Defendant would be fined the maximum penalty, £lO, with Court costs (13s) and witnesses* expenses (18-=). ___