A Difficult Point.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1892, Page 2

A Difficult Point.

« How much whisky can a man consume before he may be considered under the influence of alcohol ? was a point which cropped up at a Victorian police court daring the hearing of the case of assault brought by Charles Buckley against Constable Farrell. It had been stated that at the time the affair took place Fan-ell was not sober, and as it happened that he had taken a man named Maloney, who had been injured by an accident, and for whom the men concerned in the " row " were endeavouring to obtain the advice of Dr Holmes, to the hospital a short time after the occurrence took place, the evidence of Dr Jermyn, the house surgeon, was taken as to the condition of the constable. The doctor stated that he was perfectly sober and rational, and he did not detect the odour ot drink upon him. Mr M. J. Clarke, in cross examination, put the question " How much whisky a man could take before the doctor would believe him to be under its influence." "Well," replied Dr Jermyn, " that depends upon the ability of the man to consume liquor ; one person might be able to drink a great deal, while another might in a condition to take only very little." He would not, of course, say j;hat the constable had not taken a drop,

but he repeated that he was quite sober and there was no smell of drink upon him. Mr Clarke persisted in his questions, and asked if if a man could take three or four glasses of whisky without the effect being observable- " What kind of glasses?" asked the doctor. " Ordinary hotel glasses," said the lawyer, 'ihe doctor thought for a moment and then replied, amidst the loud laughter of the whole court, 11 Oh, that would depend upon whether the man poured the whisky out himself." A loud whisper was heard that the doctor evidently " knew his way about," and Mr E. Whitfeld, who occupied a seat on the bench, was intensely amused at the reply.