SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17885, 4 December 1929, Page 13

SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT.

ALLEGED INTOXICATION. MOTORIST BEFORE COURT. FINED AND LICENSE SUSPENDED. Charged with driving a car while he 'ras in a state of intoxication, William Edward Morris, benzine pump fitter, appeared before Mi* Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court to-day. Mr W. J. King appeared on defendant’s behalf. The police stated that on the date set out in the information defendant had met with an accident on Ohaupo Road at the bottom of the Hospital Hill, and it was alleged that the accident was attributable to the driver’s insobriety. The car was driven in an eri-atic manner, and had crashed over a bank.. Evidence was given by Constable Neil as to the position of the car after the accident. It was quite evident, he stated, from an examination of the wheel marks that the car had taken an erratic course, lie had traced the tracks of the car for 290 feet from where it had left the road. Harry S. Price, who was standing on the Hospital Hill at the time of the accident, told the Court that he had spoken to defendant, who smelt strongly of liquor. Defendant, in his opinion, was not in a fit condition to he driving a car. Philip Arthur West, of the literary staff of the Waikato Times, heard a crash and 1 saw the car bouncing along the side of the road. The driver, on getting out of the car, staggered a little. The first thing witness had done was to ask defendant his name. Defendant had not answered him. “Looking for Copy.” “Looking fee copy, I suppose," humorously remarked his Worship. (Laughter.) Witness did not consider the driver in a fit state to he in charge of a car. Morris Vietcr West corroborated the evidence of his brother. Constable Brown, who interviewed defendant at his home after the accident, considered him to be under the influence of liquor. His face was flushed, he was unsteady on his feet, and his speech was thick. Mr King explained that defendant was a benzine pump fitter, who was in Te Awamutu on the day in question. In delving back from Te Awamutu the car had struck an obstacle, and In endeavouring to check hi 6 speed- he had put his loot on the accelerator by mistake. The car had bounded on and over the bank. Dr. Hockin said that when he examined defendant at 8.30 he was sober. His -condition was perfectly normal. Ills condition would not have changed materially in two hours. Defendant William Edward Morris said he left To Awamutu at 4.30, In swinging out to miss a spring leaf of a car on the road, the car commenced to sway from one side to the other. ’He accidentally put his foot on the accelerator, causing the car to shoot forward and over the bank. Further evidence In support of defendant’s sobriety was called by Mr King. Charles George Morris, who met his brother on his return, was the next witness called to testify to defendant’s sobriety. His brother, in the opinion of witness, was certainly in a fit state to drive a car. This closed the case for the defence. Fine of £lO Imposed. After briefly reviewing the evidence his Worship pointed out that the conduct of defendant was consistent with his being In a fuddled condition. Shock and fright had probably had the effect of sobering him. He was not -prepared to accept defendant’s story of how he went off the road. The most material portion of his story was uncorroborated. Mr King, addressing the Bench, asked, in view of defendant’s position, which necessitated his constantly driving a car, that his driver's license be not affected. His client, he added, was quite prepared to take out a prohibition order. His Worship considered, however, that it was his duty to suspend defendant’s license for a certain period. He considered that he should cut out liquor altogether. Defendant was fined £lO with costs 4 9s, and his license was suspended for six months.