A DOUBLE ROLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 5

A DOUBLE ROLE.

PROSECUTOR AND DEFENDANT

OFFICIAL BREAKS A BY-LAW. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday. Before Mr. W. G. Riddel!, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, Mr. James Doyle, city council inspector, was prosocutor and also defendant. Ho charged himself with attempting last Saturday morning to board a moving tramcar- It was only a few days ago that, the City Council resolved to prosecute persons boarding or alighting from a moving car. Mr. Doyle, as prosecutor, intimated that he, as defendant, intended to plead guilty. His Worship: Is defendant a first offender?

Mr. .'Doyle : Yes, Your Worship. As far as I am aware, he has not been convicted before.

At this stage Mr. Doyle relinquished the role of prosecutor and pleaded on behalf of himself, as defendant. Ho expressed sorrow for the breach, and explained that he had not committed the offence intentionally. His excuse was that when on the point of boarding a car opposite the police station, he hailed a certain police official, who was alighting from another car. He entered into conversation with the officer, and while talking rested one hand on the handle of a, door of the vehicle. The motorman, apparently unaware of this, set the car in motion, with the result that defendant was jerked off his feet and fell to the ground. He pointed out that he had suffered severe injuries, to say nothing of the indignity attached to the occurrence

His Worship remarked that a case in which prosecutor and defendant were the same pereon was unusual. Although ap officer of th© corporation, Mr. Doyle had treated himself as an ordinary citizen, which, His Worship considered, was a very honourable and sensible thing to do. Defendant must be convicted and fined the usual amount. " However," remarked His Worship, " I must sympathise with defendant, and I hope the offence will never occur again." Defendant was fined ss, with costs 7s.

Defendant: Will you allow time, Your Worship ? His Worship : Twenty-four hours to pay- ,