GAOL FOR MOTORIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 12

GAOL FOR MOTORIST.

DEATH OF TWO PERSONS.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

JUDGE COMMENDS JURY.

DUTY TO THE PUBLIC.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. "WANGANUI, Friday.

A sentence of six months' imtirisonment with hard labour was imposed by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court to-day upon Georgo Mason Glenn, who was found guilty by a jury of driving a motor-car negligently at the corner of Bell and Ingestro Streets on January 25, thereby causing the deaths of Michael Connolly and Alma Joyco Crothers. " It is with very deep feeling of responsibility that I rise to plead for a cortain degree of leniency toward this young man," said Mr. A. A. Barton, counsel for the prisoner. "I have had the i advantage of seeing the probation officer's report and I would like to endorse everything ho says with regard to Glenn's character. Ho comes of a reputable family. Ho has never been in trouble before and I think t am right in saying that ho is not in the ordinary sense of the word a criminal at all. It is very sad to think that on this night to a party of friends ho took them toward their destination and a few minutes after that he was responsible, according to the law of the land, for the deaths of two of tlicin."-

"Prisoner of tho bar," said His Honor, "you have been convicted of an offenco of negligently causing tho deaths of two human beings. No one who listened to tho evidenco in tho caso could have any doubt about tho correctness of tho finding. In dashing on tho intersection at a speed which raidercd it impossible to avoid traffic from tho intersection you showed a reckless disregard of the consequences. It cannot bo denied that you were doing an act which, I rogret to say, is not uncommon. One cannot walk about VVanganui without observing motorists travelling in a> like inauiner over intersections. Unfortunately it is only too common everywhere and it lias been absolutely Accessary to inflict substantial penalties when accidents occur. "I desire to commend tho jury in this case upon doing its duty. Many juries shirk it. Too often they allow themselves to bo influenced by feeiings of sympathy, overlooking their duty to the public to stamp out what has become a menace. I havo taken tho recommendation for mercy into consideration, although I do not agree with the reasons advanced. It was ft dangerous intersection, but that only imposed greater care in negotiating it. "From the point of view of the quantum of punishment, it is most difficult to determine. In tho ordinary case tho accused has deliberately descended to crime and sympathy is excluded. On« can very well feci sympathy for a respectable young man but, however unpleasant, duty requires such considerations to bo put aside in view of tho necessity of deterring others." In giving full effect to tho recommendation of tho jury, said His Honor, the least sentence lie could impose was one of six months' imprisonment with hard labour. The accused's licence would be suspended for the remainder of the term and ho would be disqualified from holding another for a period of three years.