"WORST CASE YET"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 185, 23 August 1937, Page 6

"WORST CASE YET"

Intoxicated Motorist Sent to Gaol COLLIDED WITH CAR "This is really the worst I have had hefore me in this distriet,'' said Mr J. Aliller, S.AI., in the Napier Alagistrate's Court this morning as lie sentenced Itohert Sinclair Trotter, dairy-farmer of Raupare. to 14 days' imprisonment for being intoxicated in charge of a motor vehicle. Trotter's licence was suspended, and be was prohibited from holding a licence for twelve months. Senior-Sergeant W. Pender appeared for the police, and Mr E. J. W. Hallett for the defeudant. The senior-sergeant explained that defendant had pulled out of a lin* of trafiie at a high speed near the Waitangi bridge on Saturday night. The Main Highways Board inspector, Alr Semple, had been forced to pull ofi: the road to allow him to pass, and, turning, he followed him across the bridge. Over the bridge Trotter pulled out once more, and proeeeding at 40 miles an hour, he collided with a car that had been proeeeding in the opposite direction. No-one was injured. Mr Semple t-ook Trotter to the police station at Napier. hen he arrived he was "not' only intoxicated, but drunk."- Dr. Waterworth, -wlio examixied Trotter half-an-hour later ^ certified that he was in no condition to drive. ''He was bailed out by his brotner, and, ai'ter three liours in the lock-up, he was .still stupid with drink," coucluded fhe senior-sergeant. Traffic-Inspector.s Semple and Alann both gave evidencQ of the collision, and stated that Trotter was "indubitably drunk." Constable P. Reid, who was on duty at the station when accused was brought in, gave similar evidence. Evidence was given by the defendant that he had had five beers during the day, the last at two o'clock, beiore the iootball match. The indications of intoxication had been caused by shock. "I am not impressed with his story that he had no drinks since 2 p.m., whent at 9 p.m., he was still under the iniluenco of liquor," said the Magistrate. "About nine months ago 1 had occasion to sentence four or five motorists to imprisonment, and I don't think any of the eases were*as bad as this one. Defendant is very fortunate not to be i'acing the indictable charge of manslaughter. This is really the worst case I have had before me in this distriet, and there is only one . thing to do and that is to sentence him to a, short term of imprisonment.".