THE SPEED FINED

NZ Truth, Issue 1108, 24 February 1927, Page 5

THE SPEED FINED

Reckless Driver Pays The Penalty

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Christchurchßep) "Such a man upon the public highways is a constant menace to the lives, limbs and property of uT^&^.rr -■■ ."'J'HE causing of the deaths of, two persons makes it impossible for me to take other than a grave view of the case, i find at impossible for feeimgs of compassion to influence me to an extent that would allow of an injustice to'the public , /So remarked Judge Adams at Christchurch, when , sentencing to twelve months' imprisonment Henry. Denham, who pleaded guilty to two charges of negligently driving a motor-car. so as to cause the death of human beings. Not nnlv wae Dunham «!i»nt to «9Tk?,? K« l^™/il an g??'' but ■'?? was. d-oc ,c,- moa P -able of holding a driver's'license as long as he shall live. "N.Z. Truth" has already told the tragic story of the smash on the Riccarton road on November 6—a race night—when Denham, driving a. car, crashed into a telegraph pole at high speed, smashing the car and causing the deaths^ of Evelyn Blanche Hildebrand and-David Forsyth. When Denham appeared before Judge Adams he pleaded, guilty. Lawyer Cuthbert, who appeared for him, emphasized that Denham was not the worse for liquor at the time of the^ac•nW?J rrSn: £££ nersons In sunnSt <d?*i«*JX Persons m suppoit of the fact. DRUNK AT THE WHEEL DRUNK ATTHEvyHbbL Denham-had, received a severe blow on the head at the moment of impact and that accounted for his failure to null un straight away *He warS?t plying for hire' at tlie time, but was simply giving the people who were m his car a lift into town- • -Unfortunately, Denham had a number of previous convictions, and: counsel expressed the opinion that it would have been better had, he been prohibited from driving when he last appeared m Court; ->•■■■' , -, i. v , -x Asked what he had to say, Crown n'Tf^^Tl'Liivl?;^^^! Denham had a pait cularly oad recoia ' i/i i Wf-S. ?.)mcult... to ..fee, cc 'now ne ,could be. hgntiy dealt witn. His honor, prior to passing sentence, referred to eight previous convictions ag Tt f O9n e fw7w„, 0 *„„,. „«r.„?«ti rtr,c • In. 1920 there were four convictions ior speeding ana aangei ous driving, m whie ?n ;i d^ 0 e rf ' two further convictions m 1922 and- m 1925 there was a further conviction for being drunk while m charge of, a car- ' ' '."'■"' "■'"• ' -..,.- Having read the list, the Judge made the ' remarks quoted above and then went on to say: "Such a menace must be definitely and finally dealt with. ■'-''- J ■ c , "One cannot help but comment that the-undue leniency shown to the accused m the course of his progress has been some factor m . theipositionin which he now finds •; himself." „'., :..;/' , ' Sentence of "twelve months' imprisonnient was .then passed, and an order was. made declaring Denham to be incapable of holding a license for the rest of his life.