CRASH INTO SHOP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 12

CRASH INTO SHOP

1 PREMISES WRECKED 1 DRIVER ARRESTED MONTH'S PRISON IMPOSED DAMAGE PLACED AT £250 / IBY TELEGRAPH—OWN COimESFONDENTi ' WELLINGTON, Thursday "This is a much more serious class of case than the usual ones coming before the Court," said Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court. Wellington, to-day, when sentencing James Cows Gibson, electrician, aged 59, to one month's imprisonment with hard labour for being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car. Accused must have known ho was under the influence of liquor when he drove the car, the magistrate added. The case was one jR-liich must be met with imprisonment. The charge was the sequel to a car trashing through a cako shop window in Hataitai late last night and causing damage stated to be in the vicinity of £2SO.'A police constable witnessed £he occurrence. Accused, who was represented by Mr. Stewart Hardy, pleaded guilty. His driver's licence was suspended and he ,was prohibited from obtaining another for-, two years. Prosecutor's Story ; Constable J. A. Wells, who was on cluty in Moxham Avenue at 11.50 p.m. yesterday, saw a car emerge from the Etreet leading to the Hataitai traffic tunnel, said Sub-Inspector D. J. <o'Xeill ( who prosecuted. On reaching Moxham Avenue the driver apparently made no attempt to turn the car, went straight across the road on to ithQ footpath and crashed into the plateglass window of the cake shop, > wrecking the place. The car was immediately hacked out from the wreckage and it proceeded along Moxham Avenue with pieces of wreckage dropping on to load. Constable Wells called out to the (driver to stop, but he took no heed, said 'Mr. O'Xeill. The constable then sought the aid of a passing motorist and follo'wed. On drawing alongside the car the constable again called out to the driver to stop, but he still continued. The car containing the constable then went ahead and slowed down. Accused ran into the back of this car' and the slight collision pulled iim up. Man of Good Repute On approaching accused, who was sitting at the wheel, the constable requested him to step out on to the road, but he took no heed and just stared at. the constable, who assisted him to alight and found that he could not stand without aid. Mr. O'Neill said accused had not pre"yiouSly been before the Court. He was 'an electrical contractor and had previously been regarded as a man of good Tepute. Mr. Hardy said that during the past 'few months accused had been working long hours' and had just recovered :frOm a severe attack of influenza. On the flight of the offence lie had attended a meeting of electrical con"tractors for the purpose of discussing the import restrictions. Counsel added that he had ascertained that the to the shop was ■in the- vicinity of £250, and he submitted that this was a very severe ."penalty ,in itself. He asked the magistrate 'to take this into consideration assessing the penalty.