CURED OF DRINK BY PRISON

Evening Star, Issue 20314, 24 October 1929, Page 8

CURED OF DRINK BY PRISON

LAST CHANGE FOR AGED CABMAN An aged taxi driver who had spent six weeks in prison for being drunk in charge of his cab, appealed to Mr R. E. Dummett at Marylebone Police Court recently to allow him to have his driving license restored (says the ‘ Evening Standard ’). The police opposed the application on the grounds -that the driver had been previously convicted, and that the magistrate in fining the man £25 or two months had disqualified him from holding a license for five years. The driver was Stephen Finch, aged sixty-five, of Liverpool road, N.I. Mr Harry Ricketts, solicitor, said Finch was convicted at Clerkenwell by Mr Dumett, and, being unable to pay the fine, he went to prison. At that time he was addicted to drink. After six weeks’ enforced abstinence be came but determined to bo a teetotaller. For seven months ho had not touched a drop of alcoholic liquor. Owing to his ago he had been unable to obtain other employment, and bad been compelled to go to the guardians for assistance. His former employer was prepared to give him a job as a taxi driver, if only he could get the five years’ disqualification removed. Finch, he said, was prepared to give an undertaking not to touch intoxicants again if given a chance to earn his living. “ TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT.” Finch, who appeared greatly distressed, said his punishment had been terrible. His wife’s nerves had given way, and she was now in the infirmary. It had taught him a lesson which he would never forget. The magistrate said he had intended to keep Finch from driving again. He had no right to let any sympathy he might have for the man interfere with his duty to the public. But the man had been a teetotaller for a long period since his release from prison, and as he (B’inch) realised that any future lapse would entail imprisonment and total deprivation of his license, he was prepared to revise his judgment and give the man one last opportunity by. removing the disqualification.