“THREE ANCIENTS" AGAIN

Evening Star, Issue 19327, 13 August 1926, Page 8

“THREE ANCIENTS" AGAIN

ELDERLY MOTORIST IN COURT MAGISTRATE'S STERN WARMS “He is not so stupid as lie tries to make himself out to be,” said Constable Macattney ■ in the City Police Court this morning, referring to an elderly defendant, named Edward Henry Freed. Freed was charged with driving a motor car without being in possession of a | license. 1 A few weeks ago, when he was before the court on a similar charge, ho produced an out-of-date licenscj and said “The car is ancient, so is the license, and so am 1; so wo are all agreed.” This did not impress the magistrate much, and ho ascertained that defendant had no new license, because the inspector did not consider that ho was able to drive without endangering other people on the road. .So ho warned him sternly that ho was on no account to drive a car again. This did not deter-Freed, as the case this morning showed. He came forward when his name was called, an elderly man rather hard of hearing. Mr Bundle, S.M.: You were before the court some little time ago, and you wore warned that ifyou drove again—“l can hear you’; hut I can’t distinguish your words,” interposed Freed. His Worship had, him brought round nearer the bench, “You were convicted,” bo commenced again. Freed was not content to be silent. “I am very bad off,” bo interrupted, “ and I want to tell you something.” “ Listen to what His Worship says,” ordered Sergeant Dunlop, “ and don t talk so much.” Defendant subsided, and the magistrate went on for a space without interruption. “ 1 don’t want to hear what you have to say. \ou arc absolutely incompetent to drive, and a menace on the streets.” Freed; Anyone without a license needs practice in backing in, as I was doing., . His Worship: I am quite satisfied that you are unfit to drive. It is no use talking about practice. You arc not to drive at all. Sergeant Dunlop: Tie was warned not to drive; but ho has been scon frequently in the car since. “ What is the value of the car? asked the Magistrate. “It is an Austin car, worth about £BO, ami it has been a curse to me,” responded Freed with decision. The laugh that followed at tne obvious sincerity of the statement was cut short by the court orderly, who called sharply' for silence, “ 1 have tried lo sell it,” defendant added. . “ Can the police get rid of it tor him?” His Worship queried. Sergeant Dunlop; I can give no guarantee of that. (Laughter.) Freed persisted with his oft-repeated argument: “You can’t got a license without practice in backing in, he ia Tlio Magistrate called Constable Macartney, in whose district defendant lives, and instructed # him to make it plain to Freed that if ho diovo again he would be brought before the couit on both charges, in which case a substantial fine would bo imposed and the car seined.