BATTERY DID NOT WORK

NZ Truth, Issue 1189, 13 September 1928, Page 11

BATTERY DID NOT WORK

talning- a well-known* family with a recital of his pedigree. "So-and-so," by the way, is a member of one of Yorkshire's best-known families.; ' , "Know him? By joye, I should say so. Why, he is my uncle," the captain is said to have declared, blithely and without a blush. . , His knowledge of "So-and-So" was, however, so limited that he failed to recognize his portrait reposing on the mantleshelf, . Although doubts were raised m o the mind of his host as to the authenticity of the captain's declared ancestry, the former did not desire to be.discoui'teous to his guest. • ''■■''-■*■ But a cable to Yorkshire confirmed his suspicions and the captain was a guest there no more. . * , This did not perturb the flying officer very-much, though, for he continued to be a welcome visitor to other houses and was quite a favorite with the fair ones of the gold-mining centre. \ It is even stated that he went to the length of asking the hand of one young lady m marriage and called on a'wellknown jeweller to purchase the engagement ring. "Fifty pounds." Oh, yes, he would take that one, but , he must, of course, have the family crest engraved upon it. •■'.." " '. ' • ' ■•■.• ■ He would drop a note to his.Mornnsville manager and get him 1 ' to send along a cheque. The jeweller was, however, a shrewd and jautious man; well aware that £50 rings don't grow on gooseberry bushes, he politely suggested that he was content to wait for the arrival of the cash, before handing over the bejewelled circle of gold. .; y ' „ ■ "Righto," answered the captain," blithely. "I'll return with the cash when it comes." Apparently, however, it never came, for the captain • did not return; V . : ■porster was known to boast of his prowess at "Rugger," and spoke familiarly of the 1924 All Blacks, against whom, he told a local newspaper man, he had played m a couple of matches, ■ although a search' of the records disclosed no such name as that claimed by the captain. He also stated that he had played rep. hockey for Whangarei and wished to play for Thames. , An application for his transfer .from the Whangarei Hockey Association still remains unanswered.

But McCulloch's Spark Cost Him His License ' uiiiHiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiuiiiiiiuiniiniiiiiiiiiiniiiiiinuiiini iiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiuiini iiiiiiiiiiihiiiiii mii<tiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiimiimiimiiiiiiiiniii|. 1 (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin | I' William James Fqiterson McCulloch is a well-known motor- . § 1 agent and garage proprietor of Dunedin. He Was unqble to get jhe | | self-starter of his car to function, but was well-primed himself. In | | other words, his batter}) was run down and IVilliam was run m. 1

TTHE whole thing forms a. contrast 1 between the unreliability of motors and the "sparking" propensities of humanity. Even with a friend supplementing his own efforts at the selfstarter by vigorously cranking the handle of the car, William McCulloch, a master of motor mechanism, was sitting at the wheel of a lifeless machine. McQulloch, having partaken of sufficient quantities of .the orthodox "oil" for human lubrication, was m good running order. " ' ; - The "spot" did its work much better than the self-starter hadi fulfilled its mission, and brought',. William into the full glare of the public spot-light through the medjum of.the.city police court. "V To a charge . of being found intoxicated while m charge of a motor-car, McCulloch pleaded guilty. On his behalf Lawyer. Irwin ; made representations to Magistrate Bundle. ..'.... Presenting the prosecutionj Seniorsergeant Quartermain stated that McCulloch; was found at 1.45 on- "the morning of August 31, seated my.the driver's seat of a. car. outside his garage m Cumberland Street. His. condition was: consistent with that of .drunkenness and the man was arrested. "He is a well-knownv motor agent and garage proprietor," stated counsel for accused, "and lias been driving cars since they' were introduced to the country." McCulloch, iCbunsel ( added, had been working late at; his garage, and a friend came m and asked him to have v "spot." Later, when accused came to

drive his ;car home, it was found that the battery had run down. and the selfstarter had '■refused 'to operate. , The friend had made, frantic efforts to crank the machine, and m counsel's opinion it was probably . this man's strenuous endeavors that attracted the. attentions of a ■ constable. McCulloch had no alternative b\it to either back the car into the garage and renew the battery or else hire, a taxi to get home. ; .'■.■■■■" .' ■ • It was. the question of his client's driving license with which counsel's remarks- were chiefly concerned. . McCulloch conducted his business personally, and a cancellation of license might seriously affect his livelihood. ■'. ., ■■■■_. '\ '■'.. Senior-sergeant: In "the question of license there is no doubt but that it would perhaps deprive him of his livelihood. ' ■ , If your worship decides not to cancel his license, I ask that he be fined very heavily. Magistrate Bundle; In this case it is very hard to decide! I must take into consideration the matter of the license affecting defendant's livelihood. Nevertheless, those actively concerned m the 'motor trade should ~be extra careful and remember what 'serious consequences a conviction may bring about. ■;■■.•■ I will take into consideration that defendant was not actually driving the car. He will be fined £10 and his license cancelled for three months.

and further stated that he . had discovered the car to be a 1917. model, instead of a 1920 model, as he had vn T derstood. : By this time Jennie had resorted to legal aid and a civil summons for her claim • brought forth another letter from Forster to the effect that he would be getting the money from his father, ; a London vicar, and asking her to again sus-: pend proceedings until the "money from home" arrived. However, the long- suffering lady had discovered that Forster's large interests m property at Morrinsyille, etc., were simply non-existent and that the money from home would not .eV.ent.uate. She then laid an information against him, a warrant being obtained. ■->"'- Acting-detective E. Stevenson arrested Forster m Auckland on August 28 on the present charge.' His total finances then amounted to one-halfpenny, and he admitted to the detective that he had no assets at the time he purchased the car. # ' . He further- stated that he had been an officer m His Majesty's Forces m India, but had retired owing to disability incurred m service. • Among Forster's belongings was a letter (exhibited) from the manager of the Bank of Australasia, Tauranga, enclosing' £2 as balance of his account with the bank, notifying him -that m view of the number of cheques' which he had issued whilst knowing there were insufficient funds to meet them;' the bank would prefer; not; to have his account on their books. ; . At this stage Forsf er, who had no defending counsel, rose hastily and objected with considerable warmth to the reading of these letters. : "I understand that lam hereto answer a charge of false pretences," he said, "and fail to see why my private correspondence should be dragged, into it like this." His objection was not allowed. He then protested that if the Press menItioried these letters, it would prejudice his chances at the Supreme Court. ' Detective Robertson smiled broadly I and assured him that his chances would not be r endangered;. Forster subsided, again. This "concluded the evidence and accused, when- called upon, pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. He was remanded to appear j'at. the Auckland Supreme -Court; bail m the total sum of £250, as previously fixed.