William's Woe

NZ Truth, Issue 1142, 20 October 1927, Page 5

William's Woe

AN uproar of hilarity greets the screen comedian when the steering-wheel of the car he is driving comes away in his hand. But there was no such mirthful applause when a similar thing happened to William Joseph Buttimore (51), of Auckland. Buttimore was particularly solemn •—his mind being far from the comedy film when Magistrate Hunt cancelled his driving licence for twelve months and fined him £50 for being drunk in charge of a motor-car, after he had collided with a cyclist at Newmarket. Lawyer Northcroft urged that the penalty should not include cancellation of licence, as his client was a commercial traveller and used his car a good deal in his business. The incident had been a very serious warning to Buttimore and he had taken it upon himself to make good the damage to the bicycle; the rider not being injured. If a prohibition order would mitigate the penalty, Buttimore was prepared to take one out against himself. "There is nothing to prevent him applying in three months' time," said the S.M., unmoved by the appeal.