LIQUOR AND THE MOTORIST

Evening Star, Issue 20116, 5 March 1929, Page 6

LIQUOR AND THE MOTORIST

IS MENTAL REACTION RELAYED? A DOCTOR’S EVIDENCE [Peb United Press Association.] HAMILTON. March 4. Interesting medical ouinnns regarding intoxication in relation to m itor accidents were given to-day at the trial of Patrick Deegan, the driver of a car winch crashed into a train at a love! ciossing at Forest Lake, near Hanii - t:ni, on December 1. Alexander John Hamilton, a passenger in the car, was killed, ami Deegan was charged with causing death alternatively through intoxication or negligent driving. According to the Crown’s case, Doegan had had at least six or eight glasses of beer during Hie afternoon. The police and Dr Waddell declared that Deegan was intoxicated. Mrs Scown, who was in the accused’s •car with her children, said he showed no evidence of drink. Dr A. G- Waddell, who was on the scene soon after the accident, said the evidences of Deogan’s intoxication wove a rapid pulse (102 instead of normal 70), unsteadiness, eon teflon, and repetition in speech, besides the smell of liquor. Mr J. F. Strange, counsel for the defence, cross-examined Dr Waddell with a view to showing that Deegan s condition was due- to excitement after the, accident. Mr Strange: Yon yourself have a front prejudice against alcohol? ° Dr Waddell ; I am a teetotaller on principle. Mr Strange: Do yon think a man is capable ot driving a car alter haring one or two beers? Dr Waddell: lie is taking a risk. Mr Strange But would you say ho was incapable? Dr Waddell: Some men might be capable. Others would not. Mr Justice Blair: Supposing a. man had had two or three drinks, would his action, say, in'applying the brake be delayed in consequence? Witness said that, the ingestion ol alcohol undoubtedly caused mental action to be delayed. A man would act iTiore ss lowly in a crisis who had been drinking liquor. This had been proved time and again. Dr M. M. Hoc-kin. superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, who was .called regarding Hamilton s fatal injuiies, said, in answer to Mr Strange, that taken by itself a rapid bounding pulse would not indicate insobriety. It might, following an accident, indicate excitement. It was feasible that a repetition. of answers might be due to a state of daze. A blow behind the ear might cause a man to be dazed and affect his balance. Mr Gillies (the Own Prosecutor); If you observed the combination of symptoms mentioned by Mr Strange and also smelled alcohol on a person, combined with a flushed face, what condition would yon say produced those symptoms? Witness replied that without seeing the person he did not know what he would say. The case was adjourned till to-mor-row.