MOTOR LORRY ESCAPADE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1930, Page 9

MOTOR LORRY ESCAPADE

GIRL CYCLIST RUN DOWN COURT AWARDS £4O COMPENSATION. FATHER AND SON HEAVILY FINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Penalties totalling £4O were imposed on a father and son, Walter George . Bettridge and Walter George Bettridge, junior, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., after hearing a number of charges against them arising out of an accident on July 2, 1930, in which a lorry owned by the father and driven by the son knocked down and seriously injured a girl, Doris Metcalf.' The son was also ordered to pay £4O compensation to the injured girl. . Bettridge, junior, was charged with negligently driving the motor lorry, using an unlicensed lorry, and failing, when required to give his name and address to S. J. Geary, a person concerned in the accident; with failing- to report the accident and with driving a motor lorry at night without proper lights. Bettridge, senior, was charged with permitting the use of an unregistered lorry. Both pleaded not guilty. The police case was that Bettridge, junior, was driving the lorry at a fast speed with only one light showing and he knocked down, a girl cyclist. It was alleged that he afterwards gave a wrong name and address. Later to a constable he denied all knowledge of the accident. The defence was a complete denial that the lorry was driven by either of them at the time of the accident. Both accused were convicted. Bettridge, junior, was fined £2O and orderea to pay £4O compensation to "Doris Metcalf, in default three months’ imprisonment. For failing to give a correct name Bettridge, junior, was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment. Bettridge, senior, was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment.