THE MAN IN THE TAXI.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 197, 24 September 1914, Page 5

THE MAN IN THE TAXI.

£IOO FOR TAXI HIRE. A PARSON'S SON. .At the Magistrate 's Court this morning, in the civil jurisdiction, the Rink Taxis, Ltd. (Mr Harman). sued John Eppingstone Young (Mr Bamt) for £9B 0/6, due in respect to taxi hire. Mr Bishop: I can't understand how he has been allowed to run up an account for £IOO. It seems to me a most extraordinary thing. Close on £IOO for taxi hire in less than a month. The man is an habitual drunkard, and has been prohibited. Wm. Hayward, manager of the Rink Taxis, Ltd., stated that he had made out the account. He had submitted it to the motor inspector, who had considered the account absolutely fair. He had his remarks on the various items with him.

Mr Bishop: The motor inspector is no more than an individual to me.

Mr Hayward: This man first came to us on June 27. He was a perfect stranger, but he referred me to Hill and Fraser, and with him standing alongside I rang up Mr Hill, who said he,had Young's money and would pay the amount. When the account had reached £2 5/- he rendered an account to Hill and Fraser, and received paymen. The account having reached £3O 2/- some time later he again sent in a bill, and again received payment. Mr Hill then rang him up and said witness had better get Mr Young to pay cash in the future and so steady him. They then tried to get him to pay cash, but he would never pay the full amount. Young had again referred witness to Hill and Fraser, and when he had again run up Mr Hill he had again been told that Young's account was all right. Young, who was standing by, had said, "Yes, that's right. I want my cars." Later on another account had been rendered for £l4 14/-. A few days afterwards he had rung up Mr Hill again. He had not been in, but the person who had answered the telephone had said that he would get Mr Hill to sign the cheque in the morning. He did not receive the cheque, but he had no occasion to doubt Messrs Hill and Fraser, and on August 17 the account had run up to £72 15/-. He had himself had several personal interviews with Mr Hill, who had said Young had plenty of money, Mr Bishop: Did you know that he was a drunkard?

Mr Hayward: I have never seen him drunk.

I had evidence before me the other day that the man had never been s.>ber for six months. I can't understand how he was allowed by a» respectable firm to get into this state. Mr Hayward: We couldn't stop him. He demanded the cars, and wanted to fight the foreman once, and we had Hill and Fraser's word that he had the money. Mr Bishop: He ran through about £9OO in nine months.

Mr Hayward: He would say he had made up his mind to get through the money. Mr Bishop: The man's .actions were absolutely disgraceful. The taxi journeys wore never made with any purpose, and seem to have been nothing but a system of joy rides. Tn-3 man was evidently not in a fit position to exercise correct judgment as to what he was doing. It is one of the most remarkable eases that has.come before me of a man that has been wasting his substance in riotou* living. Mr Hayward: He told us he was going to knock it down. Mr Bishop: I think it is a good thing that he did knock it down, judging by his condition. The plaintiff is entitled to judgment. The unfortunate man ought to have been locked up in a lunatic asylum. He is not fit to be at large. Somebody told me that he was the son of a clergyman. If he is he's a disgraceful son. Mr Hunt: I saw by the paper.this morning that a man riding in a taxi at Dannevirke was taken to the asylum. I think' he's the same man.

- Mr Bishop: Perhaps he is. I quite understand that this man should have been brought up with a round turn before this.

Judgment for plaintiff was given for £9B 0/6 and costs.