POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 6

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle. S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders, neither of whom appeared, were each fined the amount of his bail (20s). A HEAVY LOAD. Found to be in a state of intoxication after a collision in which the car he was driving had been involved on Lookout Point hill, James Penman (51) pleaded guilty to that charge. It was stated that 11 gallons of beer were in defendant’s car at the time, carried, explained counsel, in pursuance of a “community spirit” which existed in the prohibition district of Kaitangata. Sergeant Johnson said that defendant was driving home to Kaitangata on Saturday evening, and on approaching another car coming in tho opposite direction had suddenly swerved over to his wrong side, a collision resulting. Defendant, on being taken to the Police Station, was certified an hour later as being unfit to drive and was charged. Eleven gallons of beer were found in defendant’s car. Mr E. J. Anderson, who appeared for the defendant, said that Penman was a well-known resident of Kaitangata. He had been obliged to give up his occupation as miner on account of illhealth. He had come to Dunedin on Saturday to take delivery of the car, which he had purchased, and had taken two or three medium beers during the day, tho last being drunk an hour before tho accident. Counsel analysed the medical sheet and suggested that the case was not a bad one. Regarding the presence of liquor in the car, two gallons of this wore for defendant himself and the balance for various friends in the district. “It would appear,” said counsel, “ that, on account of the petrol shortage, there is a sort of community spirit among the residents of the town, which is in a dry district, in the matter of the carriage of liquor.” His Worship; The carriage of a quantity like that might have involved defendant in a charge under the Licensing Act. Counsel said he understood that all that was necessary under the Act had been done in this case. The Magistrate remarked that defendant had been/ fortunate that more serious results bad not arisen from the accident; the other driver had apparently done everything he could to avoid it Defendant was fined £24, and was ordered to pay towage fee (£1) and medical expenses (£1 Is). His license was suspended and he was prohibited from driving a car for a period of 12 months THEFT OF BLANKET. A young woman, 18 years of age, publication of whose name was ordered, to he suppressed, pleaded guilty to the theft of a blanket valued at 10s. Detective Russell said that the accused, whose homo was in the North Island, stole the blanket from a boarding house at which she and a man had been staying and had sold it to obtain money to buy food. The Magistrate adjourned the matter until Friday to enable the police to communicate with accused’s people; in the meantime she was to stay at the Salvation Army Home. MAINTENANCE. William Stewart, who did not appear to answer a charge of default in respect of a maintenance order, was sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended provided defendant paid £2 within a week and 10s a week thereafter until tho arrears (£25) were paid. An order for the payment of 15s a week up to December 30 and 12s 6d a week thereafter for the maintenance of his child was made against James Alexander Oaskic. Mr J. B. Thomson appeared for the complainant and Mr C. J. L. White for the defendant.