CAR HITS POLE

Southland Times, Issue 20522, 26 June 1928, Page 8

CAR HITS POLE

DRIVER ARRESTED ALLEGED TO BE INTOXICATED FIXE OF £3O IMPOSED (Per United Press Association*) Gisborne, June 25. Considerable interest was evidenced in the Police Court this morning in the appearance of Frederick Herbert Goodman, a well-known contractor and sportsman, on a charge of being found in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car. Accused pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant Mac Lean said that at three-thirty on the date in question, accused was found at the corner of Peel street and Childers Road, one of the best lighted corners in the borough (this is outside the police station). The car was on the footpath and Goodman was asked to get out but refused. He was taken into the police station and put through certain tests. Dr. Muir was sent for at four twenty-five a.m. and in answer to accused. Dr. Muir told him he was drunk. Accused then asked for Dr. Collins who came at five thirty and accused was put in a cell at six a.m. For two hours he kept up a noise in the cell with a tin utensil and when released on bail at 8 a.m. still showed signs of intoxication. Dr. Muir in his evidence said that he examined accused and found him suffering from the effects of alcohol. He was in uch a condition that his judgment would be faulty though he might be able to drive. Goodman never complained of any injury. Had he been injured in the chest it was possible that shock may have made his condition worse. Police Constable McKenzie said that he was in the police station at three-thirty a.m. on June 7 when he heard a terrific «mash and saw Goodman in a car in a drunken condition holding the wheel. The front of the car had struck an electric light [>ole. Goodman used bad language and witness had to use force to get him into the Gt at ion and had to seek the assistance of another constable to get Goodman into the station. Goodman said: “I’m gone this time. I’m a poker player and know when I am beaten and can take a beating with the rest of them. You have caught me red-handed.’’ Re-examined by the Senior-Sergeant, witness said that Goodman tried to knock rhe cell down with a tin utensil. He said: If you don’t let me out. I’ll kill you, you . sergeant Mclntyre said that accused displayed the usual symptoms of intoxication. To witness's mind he was considerably intoxicated. Goodman struggled while being searched and said if his son knew they were locking him up he would come over and cut their throats. Witness had no doubt as to his condition. For the defence. Mr A. Moody, of Auckland, after outlining the evidence called Dr. J. C. Collins, who said that he saw Goodman in a cell, took him out and examined him. Goodman walked out of the cell by himself and negotiated the step. Witness submitted him to certain tests and Goodman answered the tests well. Goodman was later brought to a nursing home and was then suffering from shock. When he had recovered witness examined him and found he was suffering from an injury to the breastbone. Subsequently, witness had an x-ray taken and this showed a fracture of the breastbone and ribs pushed in. After such a blow it was difficult to say when the intoxication began and ceased and where the shock began and ended. After evidence as to Goodman's movements on the night in question, the Magistrate, Mr. Lewy, said that he was satisfied accused was in the condition alleged in the information. Mr. Moody put in a plea for leniency in regard to the penalty. On the question of rhe license of the car, he said Goodman had many contracts outside of Gisborne which he had to visit in the car. Goodman had had a healthy lesson and counsel asked that he be allowed to retain his license. He had had the car since 1913. The police stated that Goodman had had no previous convictions. The Magistrate said that if accused's business really required the use of the car, he (the Magistrate was taking a grave risk and hesitated in allowing him to keep his license but he marked the court’s view by fining accused £3O and costs without mentioning the license. On the other charge accused would be convicted and ordered to pay damages.