DRUNKEN MOTORDRIVER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17990, 6 February 1924, Page 8

DRUNKEN MOTORDRIVER.

0 FOURTEEN DAYS' A WANGANUT CASE. (rBESH ASSOCIATION TEUSOEAIt.) WANGANUI, February 5. In sentencing Abel Eowe, a retired farmer, to fourteen days' imprisonment for being drunk while in charge of a motor, Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., today delivered the following judgment: "One element that ma&t be preseiat in your punishment is that it must be such as will act effectively as a deterrent to others, and that is a factor that I must take into account in fixing the kind and degree of punishment. I am of opinion that viewing your punishment for a moment from the point of view only of its probable deterrent effect on others, it would be adequate- and effective if kept within the limits of the maximum fine of £lO. That in itself is a fairly substantial penalty, and I dp not think it would be necessary to deprive you of your liberty with that end in view only. I, am of opinion, however, after due cbnsideratiou, that your act justifies and calls for punishment as a wrongful act consciously done. On your own statement you knew that your ear was fixed up so that you could drive it. You spent tho intervening hours at your club, and there you drank alcoholic liquor till you reduced yourself to a state in which you were found at 6.15 p.m. In that state you took control of the car, entered on the streets, and drove it in the manner described in tho evidence given before me this morning, and finished up by colliding with a cyclist. "I am of the opinion that for tho dual purpose of warning other motorists and for effectively punishing your conscious, wrongful act, there should be visited on you the more serious form of punishment that tho Legislature has fixed for this offence. The sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned with hard labour in Wanganui prison for a period of 14 days." The Magistrate, on behalf of the citizens of Wanganui, thanked those witnesses who came forward to cdve evidence.