MOTORIST FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 13

MOTORIST FINED

INTOXICATION CHARGE « PROTECTING THE PUBLIC " COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE " The duty of protecting the public from such persons as you lies on the magistracy, and 1 should be failing if I did not impose a substantial penalty. It is more by good luck • than good management that yo.i are not facing a charge of killing someone," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, -when convicting George Edward Grover, motor-car salesman, aged 30, on a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car in Manukau Road. Constable Whitehead said that when a police patrol car was passing along Manukau Road about 11.25 p.m. on April 12,"accused was seen sitting in a fruit shop doorway. He was in a drunken condition and there was a very strong smell of liquor. About 300 yards past the shop the patrol found a collision in which two motor-cars were involved. Accused admitted he was the driver of one of tha cars. Both cars were extensively damaged. Dr. 0. F. Lamb stated that he examined accused at 151.5 a.m. and found him suffering from the effects of alcohol, and did not consider him fit to drive a car.

Joseph Rewcastle said he saw a motor-car travelling along Manukau Road at a "very terrific pace." He kept the car in view and a few seconds later it crashed into a car that came out of Clyde Street. Accused was sitting at the wheel oi the car that had passed him and appeared to be intoxicated.

Mr. Schramm, who appeared for accused, submitted that accused's condition was due 1;o the accident, accused having been struck by the steering wheel. Accused stated he had iwt had any liquor since 3 p.m. " Everybody who snw him said he was intoxicated," said the magistrate. " His story is very unlikely. I think he had a considerable quantity of liquor and was showing the effects of it. This is not the first time he has been convicted for intoxication in charge of a car and not the first time his licence has been cancelled." Accused- was fined £lO and costs, in default one month's imprisonment, and his licence was cancelled for two years.

WANGANTJI WOMAN FINED SUPPRESSION OF NAME [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WANGANUI, Monday A woman, whose name was suppressed, was to-day charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car, and was fined •£io. This is the first case in Wanganui in which a woman has been charged with this offence.