MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 19

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FRIDAY (Before Messrs T. Bath and J. Pickard, J.P.S) Rose Mary Cowie, a married woman, aged 42 years, was fined £25 Jin the Magistrate’s Court yesterday for being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car. She was disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for two years. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and was represented by Mr T. V. Mahoney. Senior Sergeant W. T. Kelly conducted the case for tl ? police. The accused came out of a drapery shop in Tay street about 12.30 p.m. the previous day and entered a motorcar parked nose in to the kerb, said Senior Sergeant Kelly. She started the engine of the car, out, instead of backing out between the other vehicles, she collided with a car on her left. Her car then ran forward and came into collision with another car on her right. The engine of the accused’s car stalled and she was endeavouring to get it started again when a constable arrived. He discovered that the accused was in a very intoxicated condition and arrested her. Dr A. Owen-Johnston, who was called by the defence, said that the accused had had a serious operation recently. He had advised her not to touch stimulants of any description and not to drive a motor-car.

Counsel applied for suppression of the accused’s name, but this was refused, the justices indicating that the publication of the name was part of the punishment.