SAFETY LAST ?

NZ Truth, Issue 1190, 20 September 1928, Page 7

SAFETY LAST ?

And Harrison Left It To George (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) When George Henry Edwards saw a constable arrest Harry George Harrison for being drunk m charge of a car m Queen Street, he thought he should interfere, for, . m his opinion, Harrison was not drunk. VT7HEN Edwards appeared as a witw nesß for Harrison m the Auckland Police Court, however, Magistrate W. R. McKean dismissed his evidence and fined Harrison £25, ordering that bis driver's license be cancelled . for twelve months. "He drove the car, as well as I could have ... and I was sobers lam a prohibitionist," said Edwards, m his evidence. . . A constable had asked him if he had «een Harrison driving the car, he said, and he had answered that he could say nothing that would help the' police. On receiving this reply, the constable had walked away. Edwards suggested to the constable that he should get into the car with Harrison and drive around the block, but he. was told to mind his own business. . Sub-Inspector McCarthy asked -witness if he had. seen a man whom defendant had nearly knocked down. Witness: "Yes, he hopped on to the kerb. I think that the pedestrian ■hpuld look after himself!" His Worship: "He has to, some- , times!" • Constable O'Sullivan, who had arrested defendant, said that' Harrison had been driving a zig-zag course and had 119 headlights. Lawyer Jacobsen: What condition was he in?— Oh, he wasn't too steady. He wasn't m a fit state to drive. • Had that man been • walking down Queen Street, would you have arreoted him? — (After a pause of a few seconds) X would have spoken to him. :But.would you have arrested him? — ■ No. Defendant: "I have been suffering from influenza during the past fortnight, and haven't been too good. I can aay on my honor that I haven't had more than a few shandies. When the constable said he was going to arrest me, I said it was absolutely ridiculous." To his counsel, defendant said that he did not think it necessary to call, a doctor when he was arrested. He had taken only six shandies. "Anyone knows they won't hurt you," he added. It was stated In evidence for the prosecution that defendant had almost hit a bus and had struck a post. . His worship said the incidents that had happened m Queen Street showed that defendant was a danger on the road. He would be fined £25 and his license oaneelled. Counsel pleaded for the withdrawal of the order regarding the license. Defendant waa a land agent and the cancellation of his license would interfere with his business. ,He would rather have the fine increased.. He was a married man with five children and it was his first appearance m court. His Worship: "He can get someone •hie to drive .the car." ■ Counsel applied for permission to rW«fc : .:■■'■■ i