MUST BE TAUGHT A LESSON

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 183, 5 May 1925, Page 6

MUST BE TAUGHT A LESSON

INTOXICATED MOTORIST SENT TO PRISON WITHOUT OPTION “This man was driving a car along Jervois Quay while in ah intoxicated tate, ran into a cart driven by a Hindu, and knocked the unfortunate driver down because he remonstrated.” Thus Bub-Inspector Hollis outlined the case against Bernard Brooks, a salesman, who was charged _ >ll the Magistrate’s Court yesterdav with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car, and assaulting Mani Morar, a Hindu. The offence, he added, took place at about 6.40 p.m. on Saturday, and the defendant was found to be helplessly drunk. Mr. A. B. Sievwright, who appeared for defendant, contended that the accident was due to the Hindu, who had failed to provide lights on his cart. Brooks got out of his car after the accident,'and one of the. Hindus rushed him. He merely acted in self-defence, but might have used more force than [was necessary. Sergeant Armstrong said he reached .the scene a few minutes after die trouble had occurred. The cart had one light, as was usual on vehicles of that .kind. .The defendant was in an intoxicated Sievwright contended _ that the cart should have had two lights, but His Worship pointed out that the Statute onlv provided for one. “If the sergeant’s evidence is correct, the defendant should have seen at least two lights,” added the Magistrate amid laughter. The Magistrate said that this class of' 'driver had to be taught a lesson, and could not be let off with a fine. He [was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labour; his driving license was ordered to be suspended; and he was to be deprived of a license for a period of twelve months. On the charge of assault he was ordered to pay 10s. witnesses’ expenses.