DRUNKEN DRIVER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 23 April 1936, Page 8

DRUNKEN DRIVER

“Worst Case I. Have Had,” Says Magistrate MONTH’S HARD LABOUR By Telegraph—Press Association INVERCARGILL, April 22. “This is about the worst case I have had since I have been here, and it is high time I took a stand in this district regarding these matters,” said the Magistrate, Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., at the hearing of a defended charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motorcar preferred against Leslie Spencer Scurr in the Magistrate’s Court to-day.

“These cases are far too frequent, and innocent persons may suffer as a result of these drunk-in-charge cases,” continued His Worship. “The accused’s explanation is wholly unsatisfactory. He will be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.”

In presenting the case for the prosecution, Senior-Sergeant Kelly said that on the night of April 11 a man named Edward Baker was driving along Tweed street when a car just missed him at the corner of Pomona road. This car emashed a five-bar gate on the opposite side of Tweed street, travelled 45 yards across a paddock, and struck a post. Baker had gone into the paddock and spoken to the driver of the ear, who asked where ho was. Baker had gone for a constable, with whom ho returned to the scene. Accused had been taken to the police station where he was examined by a doctor. Mr J. R. Hanan, counsel for the accused, said that consumption of a certain quantity of beer was admitted, but the charge of being intoxicated was denied. Accused had motored some friends to Morton road about 11 p.m. When he was returning to town he had come down Pomona road, and not being conversant with the neighbourhood had thought he was heading for the new road across to East Invercargill. He had gone through the fence and had taken 45 yards to pull up because the brakes were defective.