CHRISTCHURCH CASE

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1925, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH CASE

FIRE SUPERINTENDENT CHARGE OF INSOBRIETY. C’HRISTCH L’RCIL, Jan. 14. At the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, C. Warner, Superintendent of tin* Christchurch Fire Brigade, was charged (1) with being drunk. while in charge of a, motor car in Stanmore R<»:-.d; i2) with using indecent language n a public place; and (3) with having beh.w . 2 in a threatening manner. He pleaded not guilty. The charges arose out of a recent accident in which Superintendent Warner was involved. Evidence for the prosecution was partly hoard. The case was then adjourned for a week. THE EVIDENCE. RECKLESS DRIVING ALLEGED AND LURID LANGUAGE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14. At the hearing of the charge against Superintendent Warner, of the Fire Brigade. Frederick Charles Williams, furniture manufacturer, said that on December 20, he was in Stanmore Rd., near the Bowling Green, when he saw Warner in a Ford car, travelling south at about 40 miles an hour, on the wrong side of the road. The car went over the Armagh Street crossing at the same high rate of speed, and just as Warner got past that street, he ran into a gutter. The car jumped about three feet in the air, and then continued on for about another thirty yards, and finally collided with a telegraph pole. The car turned over on its side, but by the time witness arrived on the scene, the car had been put on its wheels again, and was surrounded by between 20 and 30 people. Witness noticed Warner’s condition, and, in his opinion, he was drunk. There was blood on his face and his hands, for he had received cuts in the smash. After the car was right ed, Warner climbed into it, started the engine going, and wanted to drive away but pedestrians advised bin. not to, and drew his attention to the fact that the wheels were doubled up under the vehicle.

Cross examined by Mr Thomas, witness said he would stick to his statement that the ear was travelling at about 40 miles an hour, even if other witnesses—tramway employees—said it was travelling at ten miles an hour. Williariis denied that after he had had a lire at his furniture factory, Warner complained to him about the filthy state of hi=i yard. John Ramual Moore, dairyman, said that, he was attracted by a crowd of people congregated around a motor car in Stanmore Road, on the evening of December 26. Being interested, witness went cluse to the ear, and peered underneath it, thus coming under Warner’s eye. Warner stumbled out of his car, lurched towards the witness, and offered to fight hi.ni. However, witness was not “having any.” and he backed away. “If I had stood up to him that day.” said witness, “I would have been a fool.” Ho had never seen a man in such a “rotten temper,” or heard a man use such vile language as Warner had used. Warner followed witness as ho backed away, with clenched fists, and cursed at him. Wtiness asked him te moderate his language in front of the crowd, which now numbered between 50 and 60, and included many women; but this seemed to have anything but the desired result, for Warner described the crowd in many unprintable words, as a lot of “fools”. He returned and attempted to start the car, but failed. “God help the children in front of it, if ho had,” said witness.

Somewhat similar evidence was given by other witnesses, and the ease was then adjourned.