A MENACE REMOVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 17

A MENACE REMOVED.

NEGLIGENT MOTOR DRIVER TWO PERSONS KILLED. LIFE DISQUALIFICATIONIMPOSED. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH. February 11. "Such a man is a constant menace to the lives, limb and property of citizens using the King’s highway, and I cannot take any other but a grave view of the offence. It is impossible for me to be influenced by feelings of compassion.” These remarks were made by Mr Justice Adams in the Supreme Court this morning, when William Henry Denham appeared fur sentence on charges of having, through the negligent driving of a motor car on the Yaldhurst road at Riccarton, on November 6 last, caused the deaths of David Forsyth and Evelin Blanch Hildebrand. Denham, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and disqualified from holding a motor driver’s license for the rest M his life. This is the first life disqualification made in. Christchure Mr R. - . Cuthbert, who appeared on Denham’s behalf, aid there was a large body of evidence available to show that liquor had nothing to do with the accident. The -'risoner denied that liquor played a part in the unfortunate affair. His Honor: The evidence before the court is the other way. Mr Cuthbert: There is the evidence of three persons who saw Denham after the accident, and they say that he was not then under the influence of liquor. Continuing, Mr Cuthbert said that Denham had received a dazing blow on the head after the accident, and that explained why he went so far down the road before pulling up. He was not plying for hire, but had merely given the people a lift back to town in the car. It had also to be remembered that Denham was to be punished for his negligence in November, and not for his past record. In view of that record he should not have been allowed to drive a car after hia last offence. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr A. T._ Donnelly, said that there was evidence in the depositions that Denham had had liquor. His Honor: A witness said he emelt strongly of liquor. Mr Donnelly; Not a great deal of importance can be attached to that. Continuing, Mr Donnelly said the accident had happened on a rate day when the traffic was extremely congested, and it was a day on which reasonable care had to be exercised. Denham drove recklessly, passed all traffic on the road, and ir ot over as lar as possible on the wrong side. It was unfortunate for Denham that he had a 1 d record, and it was difficult to say that the case could be treated lightly or that accused, in view of his record, should not be prohibited from , driving again. . , , “I have given this case anxious thougnt during the last day or two," said his Honor, "and I find myself unable to accede to Mr Cuthbert’s request that the matter should be treated leniently. The offence is a serious one, for it happened in a place where the traffic was highly congested and swift moving at a time when care should have been taken. Accused drove his car recklessly and at an excessive speed, and the result was an accident which had the deplorable result of ending the lives of two persons. From, the prisoner’s record,” said his Honor, "I see that he was convicted for apeedmg in April, 1920. In June and July of that year he was fined for similar and in December, 1920, he was fined again for speeding. On September 2, 1921, he was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor car. In October, 1922, ha was penalised once more for dangerous driving, and in February, 1925, ho was before the court again for being drunk in charge of a motor car.” _ After pronouncing sentence his Honor said that a menace had been definitely and finally dealt with. “In the other times accused had been before the courts said his Honor, "leniency had not checked his dangerous progress, and that has been a factor in landing him in his present situation.”