M.P.'S SON SENTENCED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8341, 30 January 1913, Page 11

M.P.'S SON SENTENCED

DRUNK WHILE IN CHARGE UL A MOTOR CAR.

PRISON WITHOUT OPTION. On the charge of being drunk whUcH iu charge of a motor car, John Broau ley, the .son of Colonel Harrison BroaOley, M.P., at Hull, received a senlenc of fourteen days in the second division. Notice of appeal was given. The oheinv was admitted.

P.C. Hodgson stated that at about 5.1 s on Saturday night he was on diuj n. Witham. when he saw Air B roadie;, standing against a motor car. Ho wat drunk, and not in a lit condition to d:.nc tho car, so witness look him into cu> tody. He went quietly to the police citation- The Clerk: iou have no doubt about his condition? The Constable: No doubt at all. Major Judge, who presided, asked whether Mr Broad ley had a chauffeur with him. The Constable No, sir; he was alone. Mr Rollit: I believe he gave you all the assistance ho could? The Constable: Yes. sir; he did. Mr Rollit remarked that Air Broadley had practically said the charge was not an unfounded one, but ho (Mr Koiiil) wished to say that Air Broadley was most regretful that anything should have happened to load to such a charge. Wma drunkenness was or was not, was now u very diilicult thing to say, alter what had occurred in another place, where Iho Justices found a man was drunk, # but a Commissioner had found ho was “not drunk in law,” On Saturday Mi Broadley lunched with friends, and perhaps he did a iittlo overstep w-Tiat ho should hcxvo done. He never meant to do so again. Mr Broadloy, ho went on, had driven a motor car for thirteen years, and he had not even run over a dog. He had passed through very crowded thoroughfares on Saturday, and when he got over the North Bridge something happened to iho steering gear, with tli% result that the engine got knocked out, and Mr Broadley had to sot it going again. Air Broadley was a careful driver, and one of the most considerate drivers on the road. He asked the Bench in tbs circumstances to respite judgment on payment of costs. Major Judge, after a brief consultation with the Clerk, said: “We have observed that it is almost the universal law in this court, and, indeed, all over tho country, that any person found guilty of driving a motor car in a state of drunkenness almost invariably goes to prison.” Addressing Mr Broadley, the chairman added: “Because yon are & person of position you cannot expect we should treat you differently to what wo should have done- had you been a poor man. The sentence of the court is that you go to prison for fourteen days in tho second division. ’* Mr Broadley appeared surprised at the decision, and he was removed from the court. Mi Rollit at once gave notice of appeal, and there will bo no imprisonment .pending tho appeal.