POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 26028, 17 February 1947, Page 8

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17. (Before Mr J. D. Willis, S.M.) STREET FATALITY SEQUEL. ‘‘He lias acted very foolishly, but it must be said that before the police definitely found out the facts he divulged the information required,” commented counsel for James Pitcairn Paterson, aged 25, a hosiery mechanic, who pleaded guilty to failing to notify the police that he was the driver of a motor car involved in an accident on December 28 last, in Manor Place, that resulted in the death of an elderly man named Stephen Harrington. Chief-detective T. Y. Hall said that after the accident the accused had stopped his car and gone back to the scene of the accident and assisted in removing’ Harrington, then dead from extensive injuries, to the Hospital. Paterson had given the police his name, but bad denied that he was the driver. Seen the next day, by detectives, the accused had still denied that he was driving, although he said he was proceeding along Princes street about the time the accident happened. The ear was subsequently examined, and it was found that it had been involved in a mishap. On December 30, Paterson called at the detective office and then stated he was the driver. Ho had explained that lie did not want his father to learn of the tragedy. Inquiries showed that there was no definite evidence of negligence on Paterson’s part,' and therefore no subsequent proceedings had been taken. Mr C. H. Stevens, counsel for Paterson. said that after the accident the defendant had not told the police the truth as he did not wish his father to know. No other proceedings were contemplated. The Magistrate fined the defendant £5, and pointed out that the maximum penalty was £SO for an offence that was regarded as being a very serious one, OTHER OFFENCES. Ernest Alfred Glover, Stephen Barney Cuthbert McAnnally, and Max Alfred Wilkinson, who did not appear, but pleaded guilty by letter, were charged with disorderly behaviour last Now Year’s Eve; The accused were stated to be working at a freezing works away from the city at present, and Senior-sergeant J. H. Hogg said that the charges followed boisterous behaviour by the youths after they had been warned for interfering with motor vehicles parked in St. Andrew street.—They were fined £3 each and costs.

Arthur George Webber, a labourer, was fined £2 on a charge of drunkenness, this being ' his secoiul conviction within the past six months. An application by him for suppression of his name was refused.

Roland Whawhiti Apes, a labourer, was fined £5 and costs (10s), for removing liquor from the Empire Hotel after hours.