RECKLESS MOTORING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12082, 10 August 1917, Page 6

RECKLESS MOTORING.

A TAXI DRIVER FINED. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.. Haiold York was charged with driving a motor-car on a public road at a speed dangerous to the public. Mr Sargent appeared for the defendant. Evidence was tendered by Mrs Anderson, of New Brighton, that the defendant had collided with her horse and cart on the old Wninoni Road on July 13. She wa.s driving homeward from Christchurch, with a quiet, horse Sn the shafts, in the afternoon, "and when approaching Kerr's Road corner n car coming at a great pace struck her cart, injuring the horse so thati it had subsequently to be destroyed, and cutting up the. .harness. She and her children were thrown out. She herself suffered internal bruises, and one of the. children had its cheek *-ut throuch. The men didn't stir to help her to ilil't her children from the curt until she called to them. Cross-examined: She denied that at the time of the accident she was giving attention to the children, also that the view of the road was obscured by trees. She had two children on fib a seat, with her. and a bay in a box in the bade of the cart. Miss Banned, an eye-witness, gave evidence, that the collision was due the terrific speed of the car, estimated at thirty to forty miles an hour. Both men were drunk. Mr Sargent commented that the witness was thirty yards .away, did not como to the scene of the accident at, all. and yet was prepared to swear to the condition of the men. \ constable who had been summoned from Now Brighton stated that the accident occurred twenty-two paces from where the car turned the corner, which it did at three paces Irom the lamp-post. The road had been swept as .hoM"h to obliterate the ear tracks, but the defendant denied having swept, the road or asking anyone, else to do lit. The car was on the wrong side oi the road when it struck (he cart. 'lhis wa.s not a dangerous corner. He had seen it, .afely taken at twenty miles an hour. . ~ , i The defendant's story was that he was bringing a pasengcr Irom New Brighton, travelling at about twelve to fourteen miles an hour. He sounded his horn when approaching the corner, and put his brakes hard on wjien he saw the cart. The woman came straight on and the action of the brakes and a turn on the steering wheel caused the ear to skid so that the horse and cart .struck it on the right, side, damaging the steering gear. That proved that he was on his right side of tho road. The Bench: It merely proves that he was on his right side at_tho tfrno of impact. To the Magistrate: Defendant said he was on the left of the centre of the road when he turned the corner. Reference to rough plans of the road and the positions of the vehicles and some assertion* by the defendant caused Mr Bailey to rap out: "Do you take me for a fool?" No. sir.

"Well, I'm not. T have driven a mo-tor-car and have driven horses as well.

Evidence was given Unit York was a licensed taxi-driver, and had been fined in April, 1910. for excessive speed; in May, 1917, for failing to sound his horn. Sergeant "Wohlman said his reputation was that of the most reckless taxi-driver in the city.

The Magistrate: He's boon up before me pretty often for different things. The defendant would be convicted.

Sergeant "Wohlman applied for the cancellation of York's license, but the Magistrate-'doubted whether he had the power. It was a matter for the City Council. The city motor inspector was making a statement concerning defendant's convictions and offences when counsel protested. Mr Bailey: He's fined £5 and costs. It is quite certain that he was driving nt a reckless spoecl. It is quite ridiculous to contend that a man driving at fourteen miles an hour couldn't have avoided colliding with this woman's cart twenty-two paces beyond the corner.