NELSON.—TUESDAY, FEB. 12th.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14635, 13 February 1918, Page 14

NELSON.—TUESDAY, FEB. 12th.

Before Messrs. W. Lock and J. Clee» ■•.-■.■:

CHARGES AGAINST A MOTOR - CYCLIST. . . ■

.William MitcfielL was charged with laving, on January 26th, whilst drivirg.a motor cycle along^ Haven road crossed over a level railway crossing at a greater "speed than ten miles an hour, being a breach of a railway bylaw ; also with having on the same date ridden a motor cycle on a track set apart as a bicycle track on the Port road. Defendant pleaded not guilty to the first charge, but admitted riding his motor cycle on' the cycle track. Sergeant Barrett represented the police. i Constable McKerzie stated trat he saw defendant travelling along Halifax street at not less' than 16 miles an \ hour, and he did not slacken his pace ■Aw<dii crossing the railway line at '■balcv.-ater Irndee-. Ho. continued the same speed down the cycle? track. When spoken to about the pace he was travellirg, "defendant said lie did not tixnk it mattered at that hour in the morning—7 o'clock. Defendant in evidence said he was -travelling about 9 miles an hour. The constable asked him if he was travelling n,ore than 6 miles an hour, and he said yes. If the constable had ask-ed-him if his pace was ten miles an Lour he would have said r.o. He crossed the line in middle gear, and could not travel at more than 10 miles an hour. The belt of his machine was slipping, and it was making a great noise, which probably misled the constable as to the rate lie was travelling. Tl-.e Bench said that the evidence in regard tc- the rate of speed at which I the defendant crossed the railway lire was conflicting, and ,the information was dismissed. On the other charge he was convicted, and fined 10s, with costs 7s. Mr. Lock remarked that | although the information was dismissI ed, the police did right in bringing the i ease as a warning to motor cyclists to reduce speed at level crossirgs