INTOXICATED DRIVER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 372, 14 March 1932, Page 7

INTOXICATED DRIVER.

Car Zig-zagged Down Colombo Street. HOME BREW BLAMED. Four glasses of “ home brew,” which he admitted having taken, caused Cuthbert George Derritt to drive his car erratically down Colombo Street on Saturday evening In the Magistrate’s Couft to-day, before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., Derritt, a clerk, forty-two years of age, was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor-car. He pleaded not guilty. On Saturday Derritt had driven back from the motor-cycle races at New Brighton with two companions. They entered town by Gloucester Street, and swung, at twenty to twenty-five miles an hour, into Colombo Street, just missing another car. according to Constable Sylvester, who told the story. After this, continued the constable, the car swung into the left-hand gutter, pulled out. and then zig-zagged for about 100 yards north up Colombo Street. Then it swung abruptly into the kerb, and stopped Derritt got out and staggered as he walked. Hi* course had been ’marked by witness and Traffic Inspector Snow. They came up to the car, and engaged Derritt in conversation. His breath smelt strongly of liquor. They took him to the Police Station. There he admitted having had four drinks, but in the car four empty beer bottles were found. Senior-Sergeant Fox had certified Derritt as intoxicated. In reply to the Magistrate. Derritt said he had not had home brew before, but the lot in question was not strong. After hearing the evidence of SeniorSergeant Fox and Traffic Inspector Snow, the Magistrate said that he was convinced that Derritt was intoxicated when driving the car, though not drunk —there was a difference. Accused was fined £5. with costa.