MARTON COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11644, 10 August 1916, Page 8

MARTON COURT.

Before Mr W. Kerr, S.M. THURSDAY, 10th AUGUST. Fairlie Pardoe was charged with driving a motor cycle at a dangerous speed in High street. Mr Miles appeared for defendant. Fined ss, and costs 17s. ~.1 Jeremiah Moran pleaded guilty to allowing his horse to stray on to the railway line and was convicted and nfied £1 and costs Us. Judgment was given for plaintiff in the following cases by default:— H, A. Prebble v. A, Ormsby and R. Davis, claim £75 8s 2d, and costs £6 8s; C. A. Barns v. G, James, claim £2 13s and costs 12a. MOTOR OARS IN COLLISION. James Johnston was charged with driving a motor car in Wellington Road in a manner which was dangerous to the public. Mr Lyon appeared for the defendant, and ’Constable Sweeney prosecuted. Henry Thomas Whale stated that while standing on the corner near the Town Hall on the 28h July he witnessed a motor car collision between cars driven by James Johnston and Miss Groun, Johnston was in the middle of the road near the Town Hall and on the wrong side of the road. Miss Gronn came down High Street and in turning the corner and trying to get in front of Johnson’s car collided with Johnston’s car. Johnston pulled further off the road in attempting to evade Miss Gronn’s car, and the collision occurred about four feet from the footpath. Miss Gronn was on her proper side. Both cars were travelling at about the same pace. To Mr Lyon: It was not an easycorner to negotiate. It was better to keep to the centre of the road in approaching a corner, and then a driver had a chance of pulling on to either side. Both drivers should have stopped. To Mr Kerr : He considered Miss Gronn was on her right side. Arthur Henry Braitbwaite deposed that he was standing on the •road pear the Town Hall talking to Whale, when he was struck on the leg by Miss Qronn’s car. He did not see the car before the collision. Johnston was on the wrong side, about halfway between the centre and the kerbing.

Gladys Gronn stated that she was driving a car down High Street on the left side,, and was travelling at about 15 miles an hour. She slackened down when near the corner, and kept on the left side. Johnston was in the middle of the road when she saw him, and turned to the Town Hall side when he saw her. To Mr Lyon: It was a surprise to drop across another car when she turned the corner. She did not declntoh'or put the brakes on when she saw Johnston. Mr Lyon addressed the bench at some length on the defendant’s action, and quoted numerous law cases in support of his contentions regarding the usages of the road, and asked for a dismissal of the case. 5 Tiie Magistrate said there, was po doubt in his mind that Johnston was on the wrong side of the road. One had to [consider whether he was driving at a dangerous speed or in a reckless way, as far as the road was concerned. Miss Gronn had admitted that she had only been driving a mouth, and -if she’nad had more experience she would have taken the inner side of the road, but oshe had ’stuck to the rules of the road as to keeping on her right side. Both drivers were equally to blame for not stopping their cars. He would dismiss the case. AN ASSAULT CASE.

Police v. R. J. Gordon and Alex Grant for using threatening behaviour in a licensed vehicle whereby a breach of the place was occasioned. Mr Ladley appeared for Gordon, and Mr Collins for Grant. Constable Sweeney prosecuted. Alex. Grant deposed that on Saturday, July loth, he jonrneyed home in the motor bus to the Junction with several others, including Gordon and his wife. Gordon said to him, “Are you of the same mind as you were two months ago,’’and he replied “Yes.” Gordon said • ■Well you can have it now.” Gordon then scratched his face. When the bus stopped he got off and took his coat off. Gordon rushed at him and knocked him over the hank'and sat on him and nearly gouged his eyes out. They got on to the road again, and had another set-to and he was knocked down on the road and bis arm broken. The trouble arose through quarrels between the children of both families. James Howe stated that he was travelling in the bus when the quarrel started. He heard words between defendants and afterwards they started “loving” each other. He did not witness the light ontaide the hiis. - Richard Gordon stated that Grant put his fist in his face, and he told Grant not to do that or he would pull his nose. Grant challenged him to come out and they had a tussle. Grant fell down and broke bis arm. He denied scratching Grant’s face. He acted in self defence when Grant attacked him. He knocked him down and pulled his nose. Eliazbetb Grant detailed the quarrel, and stated that Gordon punched her on the face with his closed fist during the fight. The Magistrate said that the fight was no doubt the culmination of differences between tho children of each family. . 4 4 , The evidueco pointed to Gordon having provoked the trouble in the coach. It was unfortunate that Grant sustained a broken firm. Under the circumstances both would be convicted, and no fine would be imposed in Grant’s case. Gordon would be fined £1 and costs.