INTOXICATED DRIVERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2926, 22 August 1925, Page 2

INTOXICATED DRIVERS.

— HEAVY FINES IMPOSED

ONE SENT TO PRISON.

Three Palmerston North motorists appeared in the Magistrate's Court oil Thursday, before Mi'. TV. (i. Kiddell, S.M., charged with being intoxicated while in charge of motor lorries, and with assaulting Constable O’Donnell. jDefend)ants were Stephen James Havell, Kenneth Francis Havell, and Johnston Walton.

Senior Sergeant Lander conducted the case for the police. Evidence was given by Wilfred Lawrence Beech, clerk to the Makara County Council, who stated that while driving his motor car home on Wednesday evening lie was blocked in the Ngakaurauga Gorge by three large motor lorries. He was forced to keep behind the lorries for some time and noticed that on one occasion one of the vehicles almost went over the bank. On arriving at Jolmsonville he made a complaint to the police. Constable O'Donnell, in evidence, said that when the lorries arrived at the township he examined the drivers and, iindiug that they were intoxicated, informed them that they were not in a lit condition to be on the road. The men then assaulted him, several residents having to come to his assistance. The three drivers were arrested and conveyed to Wellington.

After hearing further evidence, the Magistrate said the matter could not be overlooked, and that the penalty would have to be increased as cases of this sort were coming before the Court every day. For being intoxicated a hue of £2O each would be imposed on Stephen Havell and Walton. Kenneth Havell would be sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour. On the assault charge a fine of £3 in each ease would he indicted. Kenneth HavelTs license would be suspended for three months, and the other defendant’s licenses for one month.