DRUNKEN MOTORIST GAOLED

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2734, 17 May 1924, Page 3

DRUNKEN MOTORIST GAOLED

AFTER RUNNING GROCER DOWN. DAD TO BE CARRIED OUT OF CAR. Christchurch, Yesterday. At the Magistrates Court this morning, Thomas John Anderson, a licensed laxi driver, appeared before Mr Widdowson, y.M., on charges oi lining drunk while in charge oi a motor car and with driving a motor car along- Colombo !st. in a manner dangerous to the public. Thomas Fenmau, a grocer, employed by Frank A. Cook, said shortly before six o'clock last evening iit- jumped on his bicycle outside the premises where he was employeu, but had not gone more than a lew yards when a motor car came up beiiaid him and ran over him. He was not more than a yard Horn the ioolpaiii. The driver of the car dru not sound his horn and he seemed to be asleep when he struck witness. Witness luckily was not Hurt though his cycle was badly damaged. He got up and went for- a policeman who got another driver to Lake accused’s car to the police station. This driver - had to assist the policeman to carry accused into the slutiOU.

The Magistrate said the accident was undoubtedly caused by the drunkenness of the man m charge of the car. Being drunk while in charge of a motor car was one of the most serious offences Lffat could be committed. Under section 36 of the L'ubiic Ufienees Act the penalties whieff could be imposed were a line ui £lo or miprisoninent not exceeding Lnree months. A more dangerous set of circumstances than those in the present case he could hardly imagine and he did not intend to dual lightly with the matter. He hoped accused's iieense would be taken away Horn ins in spite of the fact that lie bad a fairly good record for over- twenty years. A man addicted to drink was not fit to urive a moLor ear. He was endangering life, and limb. Accused would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.