Widow’s Erratic Course in Car

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 35, 11 February 1937, Page 6

Widow’s Erratic Course in Car

POLICE EVIDENCE OP INTOXICATION QUESTIONED. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Last Night. The point was taken by Air. Hcantl« bury, counsel for Ethel Alaud Lucas, n widow, of {Spring Creek, when she was charged at the Alagistrate’s Court today with being drunk in charge of a motor-car that tho police evidence o* her state of intoxication at the tin>« they interviewed her was inadnnssiblu on a charge bused on an episode that oecurrod some time earlier. The evidence disclosed thut bystanders saw Mrs. Lucas driving erratically on tho Spring Creek road on January 13. The car proceeded on to the grass, nearly hit a telephone pole and passed over the wheel of a bicycle. Defendant was also observed to walk unsteadily. This occurred at 6.30 p.m. The police were advised by telephone and arrived at defendant’s home about half-an-hour later when, according to Sergeant Smyth and Constable Theyers, ahe was intoxicated. While deciding to admit this evidence Mr. Maunsell, S.M., intimated that he would give due weight to counsel’s submission that the evidence of defendant’s condition at 7 p.m., was not evidence of her condition at 6.30 p.m. Counsel strongly attacked the value of the evidence of two young women who admitted holding strong temperanco views and of a youth regarding Mr. Lucas' state at the earlier hour Decision was Tesorved.