DRUNK IN CHARGE OF CAR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 93, 3 April 1934, Page 8

DRUNK IN CHARGE OF CAR

Offender’s Name Suppressed Having had a few whiskies at a party accounted for the appearance of a voung man before Messrs H. W. C. Baird and F. C. Wilkinson, J.P.’s, at the Hastings Court this morning, when a plea of guilty was entered to a charge ot being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car in Heretaunga street on March 31. Sergeant Bonisch, in outlining the case, said that at 12.30 a.nt. on the morning in question Constable Sutherland observed a car travelling at a fast speed towards Stortford Lodge. Thinking that it might be a stolen car the constable gave chase, but missed it for some time, finding it subsequently at tho corner of Riverslea road and Victoria street. The defendant, who was in the car, was showing signs of intoxication. A doctor, who later examined the defendant at the police station, considered that although he had consumed a quantity of liquor, ho did not think that his judgment had been impaired. This was the first occasion on which the defendant had appeared before the Court on such a charge. Mr. T. E. O'Dowd. who appeared lor the defendant, explained that during the holidays he attended a party where he had several whiskies. He had been quite frank in the matter nnd in pleading for leniency in the infliction of a penalty counsel said no harm had resulted to any other person as the result of his driving. It was not a case of a man having hoeu incapacitated from driving a ear. The Bench agreed that it was not a case in which a heavy penalty was essential and convicted the defendant, imposing a fine of £o. A request for the suppression of the defendant's name was acceded to.