COURT NEWS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2310, 1 December 1925, Page 9

COURT NEWS

SHORT LIST BUT HEAVY PINES. A sitting of the Palmerston North Court was held yesterday, Mr. J. I* Stout, S.M., presiding. For carrying a passenger on the rear of his motor-cycle, Lewis Chas. Titter, of Wanganui, was ordered to pay 10/- and costs 7/-. Chas. William Erwood allowed a car to ‘remain stationary for more than ten minutes, and as a. consequence paid 10/- and costs 7/-. Wandering Cattle. Chas. Campbell, of Ashhurst, was charged with allowing cows to trespass in the railway yards. He pleaded guilty by letter, and was mulcted in the sum of £2 and coats 11/-. Irwin Baldwin, ranger to the Kairanga County Council, proceeded against William Candy, of Tiakitahuna, for allowing four horses to wander at largo on the Tlakitahuna road or November 7. Defendant was fined £2 and costs £1 2/-. Beating the Engine. The Railway Department took action against Clarence A. Pritchard, of Shannon, alleging that on October 7, being the -driver of a motor lorry, he did attempt to pass over the railway from Grey Street when the line was not clear. Mr. P. H. Cooke, who appeared for the Department, said that defendant passed over in front of the engine and just cleared it, the engine-driver finding it necessary to apply the emergency brakes to avoid a serious accident. “This will have to bo stopped.” said the Bench, in imposing a line of £5. with total costs £1 S/-. Edward Armstrong was charged with a similar offence in the Square on October 3. Mr. Cooke said that the train was proceeding slowly and defendant had a clear view of it. The whistle had been sounded and the crossing bells were ringing. “There is no' excuse when the bells are ringing,” said Mr. Stout, and ordered defendant to pay £5 and costs £1 8/-. Excessive Speed and a Dead Dog. Morgan Laurenson was charged that on October 21, in Rangitikei Line,, he did drive a motor-car dangerous to the public. Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. J. Grant. In evidence, John Lionel Perrin, drover ,of Palmerston North, said that he was taking a mob of sneep along Rangitikei Line when defendant’s car came along at a terrific speed and killed witness’s dog. Witness followed defendant,, who did not stop, in a car of his own, and eventually caught him up after ho had traversed several streets. Defendant said he did it for a joke; he just hit the dog and did not think it was killed. Defendant was travelling at from 50 to 60 miles an hour. Sarah Porno, married woman, of Palmerston, North, deposed that defendant's car camo up at a very fast speed.. Witness saw the dog run over. The latter had not moved from its position. There was ample room for the car to pass the dog, but it swerved. To Mr. Grant, witness said that the car swerved to pass her. The dog was thrown into the centre of the road. The defence was that the spot was outside the borough. The car swerved to avoid Mrs. Forno, and the dog came out from the side of the road. The car could not have been travelling at more than 35 mile s an hour. Evidence was heard from defendant, who said he may have been travelling at 45 miles an hour. There were three cars in the vicinity. To Sergeant Power, witness said that he took a zig-zag route back to Broad street as a joke, as he Knew Perrin was following. The dog could not have been avoided even if witness had been travelling at a lower speed. Gladstone Mawhiney, who was with defendant in the car, gave corroborative evidence. “In my opinion a motorist has no right to come along the road at 45 miles an hour in such circumstances. He ought to take sufficient care and allow for the possibility of a dog running out into the road. Had defendant been travelling at a lower speed and had his car in a proper state of control he would not have hit the dog. Fined £lO and costs. Judgment was entered accordingly, with costs £1 11/-.