DRUNK AT THE WHEEL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 9

DRUNK AT THE WHEEL.

“NUISANCE RATHER THAN DANGER.” DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENDED. Mr J. K Bartholomew, S.M., at the Port Cliutuiers Court yesterday heard a charge against Henry Arthur Reynolds Prvde. of being in charge of a motor-car at Portohello on March 13, while intoxicated. Mr Huy appeared for Pryde. who pleaded not guilty. Constable P. Souter stated that about 5.50 p.m. on Saturday. March 13, he was on duty at Portohello, and saw a jnolor-cai being backed across the road in a reckless manner. It crashed into a verandah and broke one ol the verandah posts. Defendant and three other young men weic in the car. The constable went to the car and Pryde, who was a pood den) the worse for drink, said the car was his property. Taking his name and address the constable said he could not allow him to take the car away, and took possession of the key. Two of the young men with Pryde were perfectly sober, but another man at the back of the car was in a kind of sleepy state. Witness told them all to go lor a walk and sober up. He retained the car. They went foi a walk, and being quite sober when they returned about 8.30 p.m., bo allowed them to take charge of the car. Pryde showed his license when he said he owned the car. He also said ho was in fault and asked that there might be no more about it. He had since paid for the damage to the verandah post. There was u lot of motor traffic on the road at Portohello. Replying to questions by Mr Hay, witness said he was about .i 0 yards from the cai when he saw it, hut he did not see the four young men tit into it. When they went for a walk in witness’s suggestion Pryde was is.isted ly his mates. Witness was quite sure Pryde said he was the owner of the cai. He ‘ug gered about. The young men had n aub at Portohello Mr Huy said the accused was not quite 21. The party had left Dunpdin in the car about 1 p.m.. and had nothing to drink on fhe wav. At Portohello they had a glass >f wine and then proceeded to get a upplv of bread Hasty, who was driving, weld past tlie store and in backing the at ian into the verandah post. It had not eer suggested that Hasty was not perfa-"' i sober The person running the ear was m charge of it. Prvde, giving evidence, aid he was u clerk and lived in Dunedin. On vlar;h 1.3 he went to’the crib at Portohello U, mi! ing to Hasty and Kyle, T hey go. to Portohello about 5 o'clock, or a little earlier. Ha-sty was learning to drive, -no had driven before. They had no liquor until they reached Portohello, where met had a glass of wine each. That was all the drink they had. He was not n the habit of drinking. He carao out f the hotel first atid waited;-at u the tar for the others. They were going to the store for bread, but ran past it. and Hasty was backing the ear when it struck a eranddh post, damaging the car considerably Witness sgid to Hasty not to back the car as they would walk back to the store H» also said he would then drive the car himself. It was then that ‘he poTceman came and told them to take a walk one* sober up. They had arranged for Hasty to attend the court that day, In* ho hat! not done so To Sergeant M‘llae; IU did not dispute it at all when ihe torsi able told them to go for a walk at;J sober up. They went to a crib, Samuel Walker Kyle and Jleotge ‘Amos wore in the car and they corroborated Prvde’s evidence. Mr Hay raided points of law w.i.ch the magistrate pointed out did mil apply in the eircumstances. Pryde would have hopped into 1 the car after the mishap and driven it away although it was not in a fit state to drive. The magistrate de cided to .convict and Mr Hnv then ""aid it was more a case of voung fellows mak ing themselves a nuisance than <vt being a source of danger Prvde was convicted and fined £'3 and his license was suspended for six months. Mr Bartholomew refused a request to tuohibit publication of the na-m-'s.