INTOXICATED DRIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 14

INTOXICATED DRIVER.

| DAMAGE DONE IN CITY. SHIP'S FIREMAN'S ESCAPADE. .A ship's fireman, Francis John Tanner, aged 25, pleaded guilty in tho Police Court yesterday to a charge of boing intoxicated when in charge of a motor-car. He was represented by Mr. McLiver. According to Detective-Sergeant Kelly, a shopkeeper in Victoria Street West saw ii car descending the hill about 7 p.m. on Wednesday without headlights. It was travelling close to the kerb, and struck a parking sign, knocking it down. The vehicle did not stop, but continued on. striking a verandah post, which was also knocked down. Before the car stopped it levelled another verandah post. Accused alighted from the car and walked away up Victoria Street and along Albert Street to a hotel, where he was arrested by Constable Elms, to whom he admitted that he was the driver of tho car. which hn owned. Both the constable and the caretaker of-the car parking area in Victoria Street stated that accused was not in a fit condition to drive. Counsel said accused had bought the car, on which he had paid a deposit of £lO, _ for tho purpose of selling goods. On Wednesday ho had met a friend and (hey had consumed a number of drinks. The account of the mishap was correct. On striking the posts accused had stopped and had not attempted to cscapo in the car. Tanner was married, and intended to return to sea again. A fino of £lO was imposed by the magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, who ordered accused's driving licenco to bo cancelled and no other to bo issued to him for 12 months. Default was fixed at one month's imprisonment.