MAN DROVE OVER TRAFFIC ISPECTOR’S MAT.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 8, 31 July 1930, Page 7

MAN DROVE OVER TRAFFIC ISPECTOR’S MAT.

INTOXICATED MOTORIST FINED

AND LICENSE CANCELLED.

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

When signalling east and west traffic to proceed on the Colombo Street-Cashel Street cross-

ing, a traffic inspector perceived a car coming north, headed straight for him. He jumped, gazelle-like, and the car pass-

ed over the spot he had just vacated.

When the driver of the car, Charles Arthur Anthony Fletcher,

was fined £lO and costs and deprived of his licence by Mr E. D. Mosley S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, the police said that be bad been drinking “dogs’ tails.’’ The police apparently had got hold of the wrong end of the dog, hut Fletcher admitted having had three drinks. Charles Arthur Anthony Fletcher, a baker, 44, pleaded guilty to a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car jn Colombo Street. Mr 4 R. Twyneham appeared for him.

Sub-Inspector P. J. O'Hara said that at 5.25 o’clock last evening, Fletcher was driving his car along Colombo Street in a northerly direction, and the traffic inspector signalled him to stop. But Fletcher drove right on and the inspector had to get out of the way hurriedly. He obeyed an order to stop and it was found that he was under the influence of liquor. Fletcher said at th e police staation that he had had three “dogs’ tails,” which th e sub-inspector understood to be a mixtur e of whisky, beer and

Mr Twyneliam said that Fletcher had been Working from 2’ o’clock

in the morning and had worked on all day. During the afternocu he had had two drinks. He went home, then took a daughter into town, and had another drink before starting for homo again. Weather conditions were very bad and any driver might have made the mistake that ho had made. He thought the inspector had signalled him forward. Th e inspector had’ signalled to another car, and Fletcher had to go over the mat to avoid a collision. Fletcher used his car to go to and from his work. “1 would like to find out whether the traffic inspector was in danger of being knocked over,” said the Magistrate.

Traffic-Inspector John Benge gave evidence that he had had to jump clear. The car went straight over his mat.

“I will take into account defend-

ant’s position,” said the Magistrate. “Fined £lO and costs. His licence is cancelled.”