ONE HALF-HANDLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 985, 30 May 1930, Page 1

ONE HALF-HANDLE

SCOTSMEN’S “SHOUT” LEADS TO TROUBLE

VAN DRIVER FINED £ls Of two Scotsmen who bought a drink each at a Newton hotel last Friday evening one, Duncan Donald, was fined £ls at the Police Court this morning for being intoxicated in charge of a motor vehicle. Donald, who was described as a salesman, aged 40, was charged with being found intoxicated in charge of a motor-van in the Great North Road on Friday. Mr. Sullivan entered a piea of guilty for accused, but urged that the man was only very slightly intoxicated and said the plea of guilty was entered as accused was concerned about the penalty that might be. imposed. Sub-Inspcclor Shanahan said accused was a vegetable hawker. The constable's attention had been drawn to him by a woman's complaint that the man was following her, and using rather unpleasant language. As soon as accused had seen the woman speak to the constable, he had walked over to his van. The constable, whose evidence was supported by another witness, considered the man was intoxicated and not fit to drive, so arrested him.

Mr. Sullivan said it was the first he had heard of accused having followed any woman. Donald was a respectable man and would deny any such allegation. Donald had left his son in the van near the intersection of Pousonby j Road and the Great North Road while he went back to an hotel and had only one drink, a half-handle of beer. He was turning the van when the constable jumped on the ruaning-boarrl and stopped him. Donald asked for : Dr. Murray when he arrived at tho police station, but no doctor was brought to him, although he had the ; money to pay for one. He spent the j night in the cells and was bailed out 1 on the following morning. Accused J spoke with a decided Scots accent, and had a high colour, which might have accounted for the constable’s opinion of his condition. Accused was mar- ! ried. He had bad health. Sub-Inspector Shanahan said two ; doctors had been telephoned and 1 neither had been able to come. Accused had not pressed the question. In the opinion of Mr. F. H. Devien, S.M., there was such a conflict of statement that it would be advisable to hear some of the witnesses. Constable Snow- corroborated the statement of the sub-inspector, adding that it had taken a great deal of tact , to get accused to the police station. : He had been unwilling to stop the van. and witness had found it nece3- : sary to lean over and turn off the j ignition switch. Donald was unsteady on his feet when he first got i out of the van, but quickly steadied j and then became excitable. Donald, in the box, said he had had . only one drink. He had certainly not ! spoken to any woman or followed her. ! At the hotel he met a Scots friend and they had one drink each. The Magistrate: Who paid for your drink? —I did. Who paid for his drink? —He did. “Thev both come from Parnell, your Worship,” put in Mr. Sullivan. “It does not seem to be a bad case.” decided the magistrate. “Defendant has not been quite candid about his condition, as he was obviously intoxij eated.” Donald was fined £ls and ordered jto pay wittftsa a expenses, «.i.