DAMAGE TO TROLLEYS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1924, Page 4

DAMAGE TO TROLLEYS

- CKEYMOUTH. March I

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday lw,j voiing men named William A onugman'and Eric Palmer were cliar.gcd with damage to two trolleys, the pioparty of the Railway Department, In the extent of .Cl2 on November RHh. Sergeant Elver said that the "lienee look place Oil tile Saturday night of November 10th last when the defendants took the trolley from Inehbomtic to go to a dance at Jacksons, and the damage had been caused through eoming into collision with another trolley. •■The men were not eonneeted with the railway in any way." concluded the Sergeant, "and the-- had no authority to use t.hii trolley. Evidence was given by John Craig, sawmiller, who -aid that, lie was porter in charge <4 the trolley Youngmaii ar.d Palmer had asked his permission to have a loan o! the trolley to go to a dniieo at .Jacksons, and he had given lii.s consent, lie and three other companions from Jackson:-; to Aiekens had proposed going I ■< Aiekens. When defendants were coming home from Jacksons, lie and his companions were going in the opposite direction. They could not see each oilier as it was a very dark night, and the two trolleys collided.

To the Magistrate: He was not atousloimul to loiiiliiirJ? tho trolley imd hr.cl not lent it boforo. The relay bands were in they woro nwsiy on Saturdays. Both defendants had asked if they could have the use of the trolley.

Albert Orange, railway ioreman of works, said he estimated the damage to one trolley at L'7 and to the other one at .L'd. No one had a right to the use of the trolleys unless in possession of a permit from the oOieor in charge. Air Joyce said both defendants were under the imnressioii that. Craig had perfect right- to <.»;ivo tbom permission. Roth railway hands who had been concerned in the affair had boon dismissed from the service. Air Joyce said lie eoldn’t understand the Railway Department trying to sheet the whole of the blame for the damage done to the trolleys on to Youngmaii and Palmer when the other parties concerned were equally guilty. It was not an uncommon occurrence for persons to go to dances in the country on railway trolleys, hut unfortunately that night was very dark and an accident resulted, lie asked that the amount of the damage lie eijiialised among the six persons concerned. The .Magistrate agreed with Air Joyce that lie did not think it was fair to penalise the two defendants for the full amount of the damage done as he considered the occupants of the other trolley were emiallv to blame.

The- defendants ho oi-dorod to pay £3 each, which would amount to £6. That was half the amount of tho damage towards the repair of tho trolleys, and tho recovery of tho remaining £6 from the other parties would be left in the hands of the police. Each defendant would lie ordered to pay half the costs and witneeses’ expenses totalling £2 18s 4d—• amounting to £1 9s 2d each.