THE NEXT CHARGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 22

THE NEXT CHARGE

THREE YEARS HENCE A STORY OF THE FUTURE Scene: Auckland Police Court. Date: April 1, 1930. Dramatic persormae: Mr. Wiljys Knight, P.M.: Sergeant Nash, prosecutor; Austin Essex, complainant; Elizabeth Ford, defendant (on crutches). “You are charged with having obstructed the passage of a motor-car by being run over at the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets, at noon on Saturday. How do you plead?” Defendant: Well, your worship The Bench: Stand up! Defendant: I can’t, sir. I have three broken ribs and a fracturedThe Bench: Silence! I’ll comm t you for ontempt of court if you’re n>t careful. You plead not guilty, I take it. (To complainant): Get into the box. Mr. Essex: “I swear by Almighty God I’ll speak the truth,” etc. Proceed. “Your Worship, 1 received a ring on the phone to an urgent business appointment. I had three miles to go and only four minutes to do it in. At the Customs Street intersection this lady the woman in court—stepped from behind a tram and stood directly in front of my car. Although I had slowed down to 40 miles an hour, and sounded the horn twice, she declined to step aside.” The Bench: Did she give you any warning?—Not the slightest, your Worship. Was she sober?—l think so. Sergeant Nash: The nurse at the hospital, your Worship, said she could detect no signs of intoxicating liquor on her. The Bench (to witness): What happened when this obstinate woman was knocked down? “When she was underneath the car, your Worship, she abused me frightfully, and called me a filthy hog, or words to that effect. There was quite a hundred people on the corner waiting for a tram—The Bench: “They seem to be always there.”—and all promptly jumped aside for me to pas< with the exception of the accused. Although I was in a great hurry, I assisted to drag her from under the car, placed her on the pavement, and