POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 25225, 12 July 1944, Page 6

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) AFTERMATH OF ACCIDENT. " This man is well known to the police and to the traffic inspectors, and is considered by them to be a most dangerous driver on the public highway," said SeniorA. Johnston, when prosecuting Alfred Elliot Baker, a labourer, aged 30, on a charge of negligently driving a motor cycle on January 18. The defendant, for whom Mr O. G. Stevens appeared, pleaded guilty. The matter arose from an accident at the. intersection of Princes and Maitland streets, when a. woman had been knocked down and severely injured, and was, in fact, still in hospital. Eight witnesses, said Mr Johnston, were prepared to say that the woman was crossing the road in a normally careful manner, and that the defendant was driving at a speed of at least 40 miles an hour when he ran into her. Mr Stevens said that defendant's explanation was that the woman had sought to cross the road, had gone on before the cycle reached her, and then gone back. The defendant had not been before the court since 1936, and this scarcely indicated that he was a menace, added counsel. ' Defendant was fined £5, with costs (31s), his license was suspended, and he, was prohibited from obtaining one for a period of 12 months. OTHER MOTORING OFFENCES. On charges of failing to notify the change of ownership of a car, Aubrey Huston Clark was fined 20s and costs, and John Carson was convicted and ordered to pay costs (10s). Charged with having driven without due care and attention, Allen Alexander Ross was iined 10s and costs. For being without warrants of fitness for their vehicles, John William Smith was fined 30s and costs, Albert Walter Ash ton 5s and costs, and Leslie Charles Robertson 10s and costs. The defendant Smith was also fined 10s and costs for failing to produce a driver's license. Thomas Pheloung, as the owner of an unlicensed vehicle, was fined 10s and costs. A similar penalty was inflicted upon James Irvine Rodger, an unlicensed driver. Sydney James Gillan was fined 20s and costs for using a motor car without the endorsed certificate and license.