DID NOT CARRY DOCTOR FOR USE IN ACCIDENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17890, 5 July 1926, Page 9

DID NOT CARRY DOCTOR FOR USE IN ACCIDENTS.

NOVEL QUESTION ASKED BY DEFENDANT, WHO IS HEAVILY FINED

A resident of Sumner who was a witness in a case in the Magistrate’s Court to-day was asked an unusual question by the defendant: Avhether his friends chipped him about always haAing a medical man in his car in A*ie\v of the number of accidents the witness had had. The Sumner man flatly denied the suggestion. Frederick William Saxton, a young man employed by British Pavements Coy., Ltd., was charged with having negligently driA-en a motor-car in Cashel Street on May 13. He pleaded not guilty, and conducted his own defence. A fine of £2O was imposed.

Mr 11. P. LaAvrv Avas on the Bendand Sub-Inspector MatheAV prosecuted

Sub-Inspector Mathew said that at 5.45 o’clock on this morning of May 13 the defendant 1 Ava?j| driA-ing east along Cashel Street, aspd another car was being driA-en •' do\frn Manchester Street. There was a collision. Saxton admitted iii a statement that he had accelerated to go in front of the other

William Ernest Best, accountant, residing at Sumner, said that, as he approached the intersection he slowed down to seA-en or eight miles an hour. Witness sounded his horn loudly, and Avas. three-quarters , .of the way across the street when 7 J?e saupr the defendant's car. approaching.'The approaching car Vvas travelling abouf, /thirty to thirty_five rnilftS: air h<sUj\ j/he defendant did "not sound a hoVnr anti as far as witness could see did not apply the brakes. Witness SAver\’ed and braked to a\*oid a collision, but it was ine\ itable.

Defendant: Your car was damaged, and through a solicitor you are making a claim on me?—Y.ps. As a witness in ithis>case then you haA-e a distinct advantage in my conviction?—lf you think : so. You haA-e had other accidents?— Yes.

You frequently haA-e a doctor in vour car?—Yes, I bring Dr Telford up from Sumner nearly eAerv day. Is it a fact that your friends jokingly say to you because of the number of accidents yoti haA-e had, “Ah, Best, I 9ee you always carry, a doctor %vith vou now!”—No.

George Waller. Sumner, Avho Avas with Best, and Dr T. F. Telford, another passenger, gaA-e corroborati\-e e\-i----dence.

Constable Hogue gaA-e eA-idence as to the position of the cars after the impact. The defendant said that he sounded his horn. Possibly both cars sounded their hooters together, in which case neither Avould hear the other. The morning was foggy and. as he (defendant) was driving his ..chief’s car, he was going particularly carefully. The fact that his car would not accelerate when asked to was an indication that the car AA’as traA-elling A’ery slowly. Defendant contended that Best had tra\ - elled a greater distance than he after the impact. Had he nbt swerA’-ed to the right, but slightly to the left, he would haA-e passed behind defendant. “As the witnesses are alt friends of Mr Best, r think they ar<s. unconsciously biased in his favour,” concluded defendant. “And you in your own,” drily remarked the Magistrate. ; “Exactly,” said defendant. The Magistrate intimated that he would conA-ict. The witnesses, when asked, did not claim expenses. “Do you AA-ant time to pay?” asked the Magistrate. “Oh, no. 111 pay now,” anSAvered Saxton. - As an afterthought he asked what the fine was to be. “Twenty pounds,” replied Mr Lsaat}*. “Oh, then, I can’t pay that just immediately,” replied the surprised defendant. He was allowed time.