MOTORISTS SUMMONED

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 January 1928, Page 6

MOTORISTS SUMMONED

TAKING OUT A LICENSE.

(Special to “Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, January 16.

Although Herbert Henry Cook, a Christchurch land agent, produced a driving license dated November 25, within a short time of being pulled up by a traffic inspector, on November 26, for driving without a license, he did not elect to produce evidence on oath before Mi’ E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Traffic Court to-day, that he had obtained a license on November 25. When spoken to by Inspector Marks, on November 26, Cook told him that he had a license, but had forgotten to bring it with him. Subsequently, he produced a ticket dated as issued the previous day. Cook pleaded not guilty to-day to driving without a license. Inspector Marks said that he stopped Cook on November 26, and asked him for a license. Cook did not produce a license then, but produced one within a quarter of an hour. Cook : Is that all ? Witness: I don’t want to say any more unless you want it. Cook, from the body of the Court, said that he had been driving for years, and had never before been asked to produce his license.. On this particular day it had been left at the office. He had forgotten it. Replying to the Chief Inspector (Mr H. Mackintosh), Inspector Marks said that Cook’s car was registered with the Heathcote County Council. To Cook: You produced that license within five miutes when I was there.

Cook : How do you know? You didn’t go away. Inspector Marks : I went to see a certain gentleman. The Chief Inspector gave evidence that Cook came to see him. Witness gathered from him that what Inspector Marks had said was correct, that the ticket had been got by him within five minutes, after he saw the Inspector. The Magistrate : Do you want to give evidence on your own behalf? Cook: Yes. Cook entered the witness-box, and produced a license, which he handed to the Magistrate. “There’s my ticket, Sir,” he'said. The Magistrate studied ticket, then he looked at the defendant:- “I don’t want you to get into any difficulties Cook,” he remarked. “Is it while giving evidence that you got this ticket on November 25?” ■Cook was silent for a moment, then replied: “No, Sir.” The Magistrate: No. • Pay 5s costs. INTOXICATED DRIVER.

The swaying by Henry Gilbert Hancock, who drove a car past the Addington Police Station, on Saturday, attracted the attention of a constable. When the constable saw Hancock stop his car, and stagger round it, then get in and drive off again, he concluded that Hancock was drunk whilst in charge of a car. He ran him down on a push bike, and Hancock appeared at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, charged with driving while in a state of intoxication.

“I said to him, You’re intoxicated, old man. We drove him back to the station,” stated the constable, when giving evidence before My E. D. Mosley, S.M. “He wanted to drive himself, but we would not allow that. A Sergeant from the station had joined jne. The Sergeant drove back. We ran out of petrol on the way, and filled up from a can which was in the Gar. We put him through the chalk line test. He failed badly.” Mr Lascelles, who appeared for the. accused, asked whether accused did not' succeed in getting the full distance.

“He went the distance, but not on

the chalk line,” said the constable. T ‘The second time we asked him to put his hands in his pockets, he did so, but failed dismally in crossing his feet once or twice.”

. Mr Lascelles conferred with the accused, then announced that his plea would change from “not guilty” to “guilty.” “Accused had a prohibition order which has just run out,” said Mr Lascelles. “He is a butcher’s assistant and has a wife and child. He has only been before the Court once before. That was for a very minor offence.”

“If I fine him heavily I will be taking the wherewithal from his wife and children,” said Mr Mosley. “I must stop his driving for. a while, however. Defendant will be convicted and fined £3. His license will be cancelled and he cannot obtain another before April 1, 1929.”