DRIVER KNOCKED DOWN TWO GIRLS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 188, 10 August 1931, Page 1

DRIVER KNOCKED DOWN TWO GIRLS.

ENGINEER FINED £ls FOR SERIOUS OFFENCE.

After knocking down two girls on Riccarton Road on Saturday evening Alfred Edwin Smith, aged forty-nine, of 494, Manchester Street, a motor engineer, was arrested. He pleaded guilty to-day to being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motorcar and was fined £ls and costs by Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M. “ It is only on account of his past good record that I am not taking away his license,” stated the Magistrate. Smith was ordered to take out a prohibition order.

Senior-Sergeant Fox said that shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday defendant ran down two girls not far from Church Corner. The girls were going along on their correct side, one riding a bicycle and the other walking beside her between the tram line and the left-hand side of the road. Defendant overtook them and injured them both; the condition of one girl was fairly serious and she was still in hospital, though there were not likely to be any complications. “ Pushed Fifty-five Feet.”

One of the girls was pushed a distance of fifty-five feet and was held under the car, which had to be lifted to get her out. A constable found the accused to be definitely intoxicated.

Mr Tracy, who appeared for the accused, said that it was his client’s first lapse. He had a reputation for integrity and sobriety and was well known in the town. lie had worked all afternoon and had two or three beers at tea. After working at night he drove to a friends, where he had two whiskies. At Church Corner, Smith was watching a car coming in the opposite direction and failed to see the girls. lie got out of the car and notified the police, doing ever3 rthing possible to rectify what he had done. It it would help he would take out a prohibition order. Accused’s license was his livelihood and counsel put forward the circumstances in order that a plea for the retention of his license might be made. Smith was a careful driver and had not had an accident in twenty-nine v-ears’ driving. Sergeant Surprised.

Senior-Sergeant Fox said that he had met accused in his official capacity on insurance questions and was surprised to find him in his present position. He agreed that cancellation of his license would interfere seriously with Smith’s occupation.

“ One does not like to do anything to encourage people to drive highpowered cars when they have not got them under the fullest control,” stated Mr Lawry, " and it is not suggested that defendant was not aware of the power of the machine. I think the issue of a prohibition order will overcome the necessity to take away his license. The fine, however, will have to be increased above that usual \ in such cases. Defendant is fined £ls and costs.”

The injured girls are Joan Wotten. of 37, Allen Street, Riccarton, and Alison Williams, of 77, Middleton Road. Both were admitted to the Christchurch Hospital at 11 p.m., suffering from abrasions and shock.

Miss Wotten’s injuries were found to be only slight and she was discharged from the Hospital last evening. Miss Williams is still suffering from shock, but her condition at noon was not serious.