“FELL OFF CYCLE; WENT TO SLEEP.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1931, Page 9

“FELL OFF CYCLE; WENT TO SLEEP.”

MAN WHO RODE HOME ON RAILWAY TRACK. Falling off his bicycle after having had a few drinks, Francis Garlick, a labourer, of Chaney’s, decided that it would be a better thing to have a sleep where he fell than to get up and try to resume his journey. Unfortunately for Garlick he had been riding along the north railway line and the train thundered along while he was asleep and wrecked his bicycle beyond repair. Garlick had fallen clear of the track and the train did not even wake him up. He was charged in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., with trespassing on a forbidden portion of the line. “How do you plead?” he was asked.

“ Two different ways,” was the remarkable reply. “ I was on the line, but I thought I was all right there.” Senior-Sergeant Fox said that Garlick fell off his bicycle on the north line near Chaney’s and the train which was due at Kaiapoi from Christchurch just before 6 pm. hit his bicycle. Garlick had been found asleep and drunk. As he was not on a public place he could not be prosecuted for drunkenness. He had had a narrow escape from being run over.

Searched the Line. Wilfred Mintrom, railway guard, said that the driver stopped the train just before Chaney’s and witness investigated. The driver said that the train had hit a bicycle, and he was looking under the train to see if anyone had been run over. They searched the line behind the train, and about 400 yards back found the accused, who was asleep under a coat. “ Where’s my bike? ” was the only contribution defendant made to the conversation which ensued. A constable read a statement by the defendant, in which he admitted having had a “ few drinks ” on the occasion. Accused had been drinking hard, said the witness, but could not be arrested for drunkenness as he was not drunk in a public place.

“You see,” said the defendant, “another man has permission to use the track, and I thought I could use it, too.”

Garlick said that he earned 15s per week.

“ I think you do a lot of your work in an hotel,” commented the Magistrate. “ You are lucky to be alive. I suppose we must protect people like you against yourselves.” The defendant was fined £3 and costs.