MOTORISTS SENTENCED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 14

MOTORISTS SENTENCED.

IMPRISONMENT FOR ASHDOWN "GROSS RECKLESSNESS SHOWN" NO LICENSE FOR TWO YEARS. " Gross recklessness and some degree oT intemperance can alone explain your conduct," said Mr. Justice Ilerdmati in the Supreme Court yesterday in sentencing William James Ashdown to six months' hard labour for negligently driving ii motor-car in Khyber Pass, theroby causing bodily injury to a woman. iris Honor said that Ashdown's case was not like that of the lad Donald who had been lined in respect of his part in the motoring accident in Rerntiera Road when an elderly man had been killed. Donald was a boy with little experience, but Aslulown was a man with all the experience of a bus driver. Donald had a good character, but Aslulown had been before the Court on no fewer than three occasions for motoring offences.

On his own admission Ashdown had been taking some drink, and there was no doubt he was to some extent affected by drink. One of the prisoner's companions at the time was plainly drunk.

" 'l'ho evidence showed that you drove up to a stationary tramcar with a callous disregard for the safety of the passengers, and swept an unfortunate woman off her feet," His Honor continued. " That the woman was not killed was not the prisoner's fault. The case is one for which no excuse can be offered.

In addition to the sentence of imprisonment Ashdown was also prohibited from obtaining a motor-driver's license for a period of two years.

FINE OF SEVENTY-FIVE POUNDS

NO LICENSE FOR THREE YEARS

The young man, Andrew Donald, who had been found guilty of causing the death of Robert Thomas Dagg by h'.s negligent driving of a motor-car in lieniuera Road, was fined £.75 by Mi. Justice Herdman, with the alternative of six months' imprisonment, his presentdriving license was suspended for the remainder of its term, and ho was disqualified from obtaining another license for three years after the expiry of his present one. In order that his father might not be burdened with the fine, prisoner was allowed a year in which to pay it. Mr. A. H. Johnstone, counsel for prisoner, pointed out that Ins client was only 20 years of age, and a Jad of considerable promise, just on the threshold of his career. Since his arrival from Scotland four years ago he had proved himself an excellent citizen, and he was respected hy those who worked with him, and also in private life. Further, there was an element of misfortune in the circumstances of the collision. There was no suggestion of joy-riding or drink, or any criminal element, and nothing callous in the prisoner's behaviour. Bearing :n mind the jury's recommendation of mercy, he asked the Court to meet the case with a fine, and the withholding of prisoner's driving license for a period. His Honor said the case had given him serious difficulty. On the one the jury had very properly found that prisoner's careless driving had resulted in the death of a fellow-citizen. On the other hand, he was only a lad, and his character was excellent. No doubt his inexperience had had something to do with the calamity. It might be that he had failed to realise the alarming possibilities that might ensue from -driving at an excessive speed. No doubt he and his Father had beer, distracted because of their domestic grisf, so that his mind was not sufficiently concentrated upon his duty as a driver. Having in mind the prisoner's youth and character and the special circumstances that prompted the jury's recommendation, the case would be met by a fine.