DRUNKEN MOTORIST

Southland Times, Issue 20201, 11 June 1927, Page 8

DRUNKEN MOTORIST

LICENSE SUSPENDED. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 10. Maurice Walter Luxford Thompson, aged 40, was before the Police Court to-day, charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car at Arapehu, on February 19, with driving a car without being duly licensed and with a breach of his prohibition order. Mr Grenville appeared for accused who pleaded guilty to all charges. Sub-Inspector Lewin said Thomson, after he had a disagreement with his wife, drove a motor-car and collided with another car. He was intoxicated. As recently as January 19 at Dargaville, he was fined £lO for being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car and at the same time his license was cancelled and a prohibition order issued. Counsel asked the Magistrate to be as lenient to Thompson as possible under the circumstances. He made an attempt to keep off liquor, but the desire was too much for him. Thompson was foolish. When not in the grip of liquor he was a decent, respectable man. He had spent a night in custody already. The Magistrate, Mr McKean, said he could not show very much leniency to accused as this was his second offence for driving while intoxicated. On that charge he would be fined £25 in default one month’s imprisonment, fined 10/- for driving without a license and £2 for the breach of his order. In addition he would be disqualified from driving motor cars for a period of two years. Mr Greville said accused was afraid he would not be able to pay the fines.