MOTORIST SENT TO GAOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 12

MOTORIST SENT TO GAOL

DROVE WHILE INTOXICATED COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE [gt TELEGRAPH—PR ESS ASSOCIATION] . Wednesday "This is about the worst case I have had- since I have been here, and it is high tima I took a ;*tand in this district regarding these matters," said the magistrate, Mr. W. It. Freeman, S.M., I at the hearing of a defended charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car, brought against Leslie Spencer Scurr to-day. "These cases are far too frequent," said the magistrate, "and innocent persons" may suffer as a result of these drunk-in-charge cases. Accused's explanation is wholly unsatisfactory. He will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour." In presenting the case for the prosecution/ Senior-Sergeant Kelly said that on the night of April 11 a man named Edward Baker was driving along Tweed - Street when a car just missed him at the corner of Pomona Boad. This car smashed a five-bar gate on the opposite side of Tweed Street, travelled 45 yards across a paddock, and struck a post. Mr. Baker had gone into the paddock and spoken to the driver of the car, who asked where ho was. Mr. Baker had thengone for a constable, with whom he returned to the scene. Accused had been taken to tho police station, where he was examined by a doctor.

Mr. J. -It. Hanari, counsel for accused, said the consumption of a certain quantity of beer was admitted, but the charge of being intoxicated was denied. Accused had motored some friends to Morton Road about 11 p.m. When he -was returning to town he had come down Pomona Road, and, not being conversant with the neighbourhood, ho had thought he was heading for a new road across to East Invercargill. He had gone through a fence and had taken 45 ysrds to pull up because the brakes were defective.