INTOXICATED MOTORIST FINED

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 2

INTOXICATED MOTORIST FINED

Sequel to Head-on Collision NEITHER DRIVER HAD WARRANT OF FITNESS In the Woodville Magistrate's Court yesterday Richard Francis Dorset, of 609 Church Street, Palmerston North, was convicted of being intoxicated in charge of a car and was fine £lO, his license being cancelled for 18 months. Dorset was also fined 10s and costs 10s for having no warrant of fitness for his vehicle. On a similar charge, Noel Christian Berg, of 2h George Street, Dannevirke, who was involved with Dorset in an accident on Wednesday evening, was also fined 10s and costs. The accident occurred about 7 p.m. on Wednesday on the Woodville-Pal-merston North highway near the limeworks at the eastern end of the Maaawatil Gorge. The two cars collided almost head-on and both were extensively damaged. Berg suffered a bruised knee and Dorset’s passenger, whose head went through the windscreen, was cut about the face. The fence on the hill side of the road, Berg’s left-hand side, was damaged as a result of the collision. Prosecuted by Constable L. Skinner before Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., Dorset pleaded not guilty to the intoxication charge. He was not represented by counsel. After the formal police evidence, Dr. P. H. Mules was called and stated that he had examined accused • and considered him in a state unfit to drive a car. N. C. Berg stated in evidence that, returning from Marton to Dannevirke, he was driving in the vicinity of the limeworks at about 20 m.p.h. when an approaching car veered suddenly towards his and they struck head on. There were two men in the other car and both appeared intoxicated, having indistinct speech and being unsteady on their feet. He also saw something thrown down the bank at the roadside but did not see what it was. Accused offered him two bottles of beer, which he refused. Accused’s car stopped about 30 feet past his after the impact. Jack Mansell, of Mangatera, Dannevirke, gave corroborative evidence. Ordering the penalty mentioned, the Magistrate allowed a month to pay. Costs were: Medical expenses £1 Is, medical witness £1 Is, witnesses’ expenses (2) £1 12s, and Court costs 10s.