GIRL WITH WHISTLE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1933, Page 8

GIRL WITH WHISTLE

' BICYCLE RIDING INCIDENT.

FINE FOR* NEGLIGENCE

MELBOURNE, May 16

The usually staid docorum of the South Melbourne Court wag disturbed when Beatrice Miles, a young womian, was charged with having ridden a bicycle in Bt. Kilda Road in,-a negligent manner. The- girl,, who- appeared in Court with- a whistle hangr ing.ylrom her 1 neck vhy a oord, was wearing a ‘‘sweater” and socks and her 'mnees were bare. . / Ai constable said he saw defendant riding a bicycle along St. Kilda Road while hanging *on to a motor-car that was* travelling about., 30 miles an hour. When he stopepd her she*, told him her ; *knoa was' swollen and she could not - push *the. bicycle. ‘■The Magistrate- (to defendant): Do you wish to give* sworn evidence in this, matter?: You should not,,.ride a bicycle if you cannot ride it properly.

Defendant: I don’t want to swear about it. I can’t walk to Sandringham and I.can’t afford to*pay. fares.

The Magistrate: What .is the whistle for? •

The Girl (blowing ;a- .sharp blast): To make people, get out of tile road. They don’t take any notice of a bell. When the magistrate said that the Bench took a serious • view of the offence the girl interjected, “You are just being nasty... Don’t fine me too much, as I will lmve* to take it out in the colls and it is not lciy nice there.” t . 'fhe Magistrate (sternly): You must not ride a bicycle in this manner. The Girl: You are going to make an old woman of me. Dash it all, sir, you are" just being horrible ! After warning the girl that she had been endangering other people’s lives b v riding her machine in the w'nv she bedridden it, the magistrate find her £2. She was given,, time to. pay.