HEAVY FINES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 2

HEAVY FINES.

LORRY-DRIVER GIVEs WRONG NAME.

GIRL CYCLIST JXJL-REI). Penalties totalling £i o W6 r e m pos od on a father and bod, Walter George Bottridgo and Walter Georgo B ett ridge, ,l un -; the Magistrate's Court yesterday by Mr E. D. M osI ev S M aftcr hearing a number of charges preferred against them, arising out of a a accident on July 2nd, 1030, i u a lorry owned by the father and driven by the son knocked dowr. snd seriously injured a. young girl Doris Metealf. The SO n was also ordered to pay £4O compeueation to the injured si-:. The case took a dramatic turn at its conclusion, when the Magistrate, shortly arter warning Bett* ridge, to tell the truth, ordered him out of the witness-bos -. n d Mr R. Twyneham, who appeared for both accused, after consulting them, advised the Magistrate that he would leave th-.-caoe as it stood.

Walter George Bettridge, jun. vras charged with negligently driving a motor-lorry in Bealey avenuo oo "july 2nd, 1930, knowingly using an unlicensed lorry on the same date, driving a motor-lorry without having assigned ijumber-plateu afllveO, driving a motor-lorry concerned in an accident involving injury to one Doris Metealf, and failing when required to give bis name and addres to one, S. J. Gearv, a person concerned in tho accident, with failing to report such an accident, and with driving a motor-lorry at aight \rithout proper lights. Walter George Bettridg-.', ecu., was

charged with permitting the use of an unlicensed motor-lorry of which ho was the owuer, and with permitting the lorry to bo used without proper number plates affixed. Both accuoed pleaded r.ot guilty to the charges. Felice Gaso. Sub-Inspector P. J. O'Hara, outlimns the case lor the Police, stated that "it was alleged that Bettridge junior was driving along IJealey avenue on the evening of July 2nd in an easterly direction, and allegedly travelling at a fast rate, with only one light burning. Ho turned into Churchill street and collided with the Kill, Doris Metealf. who was knocked from her bicycle and teriously injured. „ At'tci- thf> accident, tho 6ub-Inspec-tor continued, accused wrongly gave his name as H. Johnston, and his address as 30 Onslow street. It was later discovered that the number plates on tho truck belonged to another vehicle. Through tho driver's misleadinr: information tho Police h'u been given considerable trouble m -ocatiiiT the truck, and it was nllv located only throucrh one of the witnesses of tho accident. Evidence Heard. IX>ris Metealf. who reside.: wiiA her parents at 52 North Avon fyad, gave evidence of the accident in wine! 1 , she was seriously injured, and Stephen Joseph Geary, ail employee of the City Council, deposed as t<> the taking of accused's name after the accident, and tho subsequent discovery of his real identity. Both were positive that Bett ridge," jun., was the driver of the '°Eri'c Edgar John McLean, Harold William Kemps, and George Ehott Mitchell, all of whom saw the accident or arrived shortly after it- happened. also were definite in their assertions that the driver of the lorry was the junior accused. , . . , Harrv Metcaif. father of the injured girl, who visited the hoino of accused with the witness Geary, and Constable J. McLood. also gave evidence. Constable John Henry McC'ormac:t, who interviewed Bettridge, .jun., later stated that he dsnied any knowledge of the accident, but later admitted chat the lorrv which injured the girl waa tho one 'owned by his father. Ho had said that a brother, Edward, had beer, the driver and that he had since gone to the North Island. The constable then searched tho_ passenger lists, and discovered that this was not correct.

Charge 3 Denied. "Doth accused most oiupnitUcaiOr' deny that the truck was used by either of them at the time of the accident,' said Mr Twyneham in opening the defence. He submitted that the facts of identification were not quite positive, all the evidence of identification having been based on the fact that witnesses saw the accused for a very short period, and iu some instances only by lamplight. The hours accused worked and the fact that the lorry was damaged in a previous accident and unable to do more than four miles per hour also showed that Bettridge could not have been the lorry-driver. Defendant's Evidence. Bettridge, junior, stated that on tho date of the accident he had ridden home with bis brother on his bicycle. He first knew a"bout the accident when Geary bad called at his home, at 105 North Avon road. Accused was then cross-examined by the Sub-Inspector, and after a few replies was told by the Magistrate that when in the bos on oath he should speak the truth. 'Everything 1 have said is the truth, anyway," answered Bettridge. "How many places have you been residing at during the last two years 9" continued the Sub-Inspector. "What's that got to do with the case?" asked witness. Bettridge was then ordered out oil the box by the Magistrate, and Mr Twyneham, after consulting with accused stated that he would leave tho case as it was. Magistrate's Finding. "Defendants will be convicted.'-' said Mr Mpsley. "The evidence against them is of the most substantial character, and such that no Court could possibly disbelieve. The evidence of identity is ample in every respect, and sheets home to the father and son the crime with v.-hich they havo been charged. T. have not one shadow of doubt that the younger accused is the man who drove the lorry on the night in question, and who was concerned in the unfortunate accident to this young girl. "On the negligent driving charge the vounger accused ia convicted ■and fined £2O and costs, and ordered to pay Doris Metcalf the sum of £4O, in compensation for bodily injury received by reason of the accident, resulting from the act of defendant. In default of pay. meat defendant will be given three months' imprisonment with hard labour." On the charge of failing to give hie name and address when called on, the junior accused was fined £lO and costs, in default within seven days a distress warrant to be issued, and in default of the distress one month's imprisonasejjt with hard labour. Accused wag convicted and discharged on the other four charges. Jjettridge, senior, was convicted and fined £lO, in default xrjtbio seven days one month's imprisonment with har<J labour, and was convicted and discharged on th® seoocd eharge.

YE OLDE ENGLISH PLUM PUDDING.

The greatest of" all puddings "which would undoubtedly grace our tables more often were it not for the trouble involved in making. Ernest Adams, Ltd., have again come to the assistance of the busy housewife and now provide a very special kind of plum pudding already made. A sample size is available for those who wish to try out this innovation. This sample pudding, which sells in cellophane paper for Is, also gives a splendid idea of the economy aspect. No woman could use the same amount of eggs, butter, raisins, sultanas, lemon peel, sugar, flour, etc., and produce a similar pudding at the price. There are four sizes: Sample Pudding Is; Puddings in basins Is 6d, 2s 3d, and 3s (price includes basins). Ye Olde English Plum Puddings are now on sale at all Ernest Adams, Ltd.'s," Cake Shops. —1