COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1934, Page 5

COURT NEWS

DR. THACKER CHARGED With Insulting Language A CYCLIST S ALLEGATION(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. May 11. A charge of using insisting words iu a public place was brought against Henry Thomas Joy nt Thacker, medical practitioner, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, while Dr. Thack er’s chauffeur, Clarencd Campbell Falconer, was charged with negligently driving a car. Poth of the charges were di-missed. Sub-Inspector (Powell said that, on April 10. Leonard Armstrong was cycling in Durham Street on his correct side, opposite Thacker’s property. Dr. Thacker’s car was driven in front of him. and stopped so that Armstrong had to ride into the gutter and fall off to avoid riding into the car. Arm•trong asked the chauffeur for an explanation. but Dr. Thacker replied that he had the right to pull in. as ho lived there. Dr. Thacker also told Armstrong to “Get out of the road!” and called him “A damnel useless cur!” and, turning tn the chauffeur, told him “To squeeze the | neck of that man.” Dr. Thacker and Falconer, also Mr j Thacker, denied that Dr. Thacker had j used the words, and they all declare 1 I that Armstrong had used provocative language, calling Dr. Thacker “the biggest dud in New Zealand.” ‘.•mJ ‘' a big bluff.'' The Magistrate said that the evidence on either side was an absolute contradiction, and ho was unable to sav which was the truth.