TWO MORE DRUNKEN DRIVERS HAVE LICENSES CANCELLED

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 76, 30 March 1931, Page 7

TWO MORE DRUNKEN DRIVERS HAVE LICENSES CANCELLED

Youth Aged Twenty Years Admits Having Had Three Glasses Of Beer.

FOLLOWING on three convictions for drunken driving last week, two more were entered in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. George Murray, a clerk, aged twenty years, residing with his parents at Sumner, was fined £6, his present license was cancelled and he was prohibited from procuring another license until December 31. Ernest O’Donnell, a window cleaner, aged thirty-five years, was fined £lO, his license was also cancelled and he was prohibited from procuring another license until October 31. The two accused were arrested on Saturday, O’Donnell In Riccarton Road, and Murray in Ferry Road.

O’Donnell pleaded guilty. Sergeant Hyland said that O'Donnell was driving a motor-car in Riccarton Road at 6.30 p.m. Opposite the Lower Riccarton Hotel, he ran into a gate post and damaged it. Mr Johnston, who appeared for O’Donnell, said that the accused had some other young men in the car with him. One of them wanted to get out and O’Donnell went to pull into the recess by the gate. He had had more liquor than was good for him, but had been given a lesson that would do him for all time. His car was damaged to the extent of about £3O, besides the damage to the gate amounting to £5. “He will be convicted and fined £lO and his license cancelled,” said the magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M. Mr Johnston: Would your Worship accept an undertaking from him that he will not drive the car? Mr Mosley : No, I won’t do that. It practically means putting him out of work in these hard times.—These men know what they are about when they take liquor. There is no excuse for any man over-indulging when in O’Connell’s licenses in respect of both car and motor-cycle were cancelled. He was ordered to pay the fine at the rate of £5 a month. -Had Heavy Week. Murray pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr Hunter. Sergeant Hyland said that he had been driving a car at the entrance to Monica Park on Saturday night when arrested on the charge. John Charles James, a City Council traffic inspector, said he saw accused in his car in front of the gates. When witness went over to him he saw he was intoxicated. Constable Masktu was present and arrested accused, who was very hesitating in his speech and did not appear to know what he was talking about. Constable Maskill said that Murray was not “ staggering ” drunk, but clearly under the influence of liquor. Other police witnesses gave corroborative evidence.

Attack ot Nerves. Mr Hunter said that accused -was BffiSHfflffiHHSHSßHßfflSlffißiHHHl

only twenty years of age. He had been running at sports that day, had been dieting and training hard, and studying at the same time. On Saturday evening he went to a party at a private house, but left about 10.15 p.m., as he was tired after his heavy day. He asked a friend named Mantan to drive the car, and Mantan did so. Outside the gates of Monica Park a big crowd had collected, and the engine of the car stalled owing to the slow speed. Murray decided to take the wheel himself, and had just moved over when the inspector arrived. The inspector took the keys of the car and went away for about five minutes, and when he returned Murray was in a thorough state of nerves, and gave a worse exhibition of himself than the case warranted. He had had only a small quantity of beer at the party, and would not have driven the car except for the traffic jam at the broadsiding. He was not put through- any tests, and had acked to see the family doctor, Dr Mark Brown, but had been unable to get him. Accused admitted having three glasses of beer. “ Don’t you think that three glasses would affect any man?” the sergeant asked Mantan when he was giving evidence. “Man, did you say, sergeant?” put in the Magistrate. “ Yes, your Worship.” “ These are little more than boys, twenty years of age.” Mr Mosley said that Murray must be convicted. The fact that he put another young man in charge of the car, who had no license and could not drive properly, only made the case worse. “ His parents are not going to meet the fine,” said Mr Hunter. “'No. If they are wise they won’t,” added Mr Mosley. “Any man who is drunk in charge," said the. Magistrate, “is going to lose his license except in very exceptional cases.”

“ It might have been a lot worse in this case,” he added, in convicting Murray.