HARD LABOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 11

HARD LABOUR

MAGISTRATE TAKES A '\STAND

Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, April 22. “This is about the worst case I liavo had since I have been here, and it is high time I took a stand in this district regarding these matters,” said Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., at the hearing of a defended charge of being' intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car 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. “Accused’s explanation is wholly unsatisfactory. Ho will he sentencecl to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.” 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 smashed a five-bar gate on

the opposite side of Tweed Street, travelled 45 yards across a padock, and struck a post. Baker had gone into the paddock and spoken to the i driver of the car, who asked where he J was. Baker had gone for a constable, j with whom he returned to the scene. I Accused had been taken to the police J station, where he was examined by a' doctor. !

Mr J. R. Hanan, counsel for accussed, said the, 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 lie was returning to town he had come down Pomona Road, and not being conversant with the neighbourhood had thought he was heading for a new road across to Bast Invercargill. He had gone through the fence and had taken 45 yards to pull up because his brakes were defective.