DRUNK IN TRUCK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 570, 29 June 1933, Page 6

DRUNK IN TRUCK

bushman fined PROTESTS BY PASSENGERS CAUSE ARREST OF DRIVER CREATED DISTURB AN CE Arrested for being drunk while in charge of a truck Edward Pilkington a bushman was fined £5 and 10s 6d medieal expenses -by Messrs A. G. Holland and A. W. Downer, j.p.'s in the Rotorua Court yesterday. iSenior-Sergeant Carroll said that Pilkington had come in to Rotorua on Friday to do some business which had taken him some days. On Monday he had been searched for by a man named Carr and on Tuesday, at about 11 a,m., Pilkington drove his truck from outside the Palace Hotel to the Bank of New Zealand corner where onqf of the Maori women passengers protested that he was unfit to drive. He got ont of the truck and Oarr then drove the truck out to Whakarewarewa. Inspector Ford obtained a driver named Shaw and had the truck driven back to the police station where Pilkington had been arrested. He had created some disturbance and had demanded a doctor. Dr. Hay had been sent for and had certified that Pilkington was drunk and had mentioned that he was much more under the influence of liquor two hours earlier. Pilkington had spent the night in the cells. Lying Beside Truckl Evidence was given by Inspector Ford that he had seen the truck at the Bank of New Zealand corner at 12.15 p.m. on Tuesday and that Pilkington was lying beside it drunk. He had kept the truck under observation for a while and had then gone to the police station to get a constable, but they happened to be out. He had returned and had found the truck gone. Later he went to the Geyser Hotel and found the truck there with Carr drivimg it. He had instructed his assistant Shaw to drive the truck back to .the station where Pilkington, who was under the influence of liquor, was under arrest. To Mr. R. A. Potter (for the defence) : Mr. Ford said that he did not see Pilkington actually driving the truck and he could not dispute it if it was said that Carr drove the truck ■to Whaka. Waited To Get Out Kitte Newton, a Maori wornan, said that she was a passenger on the truck and when Pilkington had driven from the Palace Hotel to the Bank of New Zealand corner, she had protested that he was unfit to drive because he had had too much liquor and was zigzagging over the road. Carr then took charge of the truck. Carr had had a few drinks but was able to drive all right. . To Mr. Potter: Pilkington stopped ■the truck when she asked, him and she Was not afraid to drive with him. George Robert Carr deposed that he took over the truck when the last witness asked Pilkington to pull up. Pilkington had driven to the Bank of New Zealand corner. He had had liquor but was not unfit to drive. Te Mr. Potter. He took over the truck when asked to, because he thougiht that it was better for him to take the wheel though Pilkington was capable of handling the truck. Peter Lynch corroborated the last witness's evidence. Senior-Sergeant E. J. Carroll gave formal evidence of arrest. The De'fence Mr. Potter said that there was no evidence that Pilkington was in charge of -the truck when he was drunk. The evidence of all the witnesses went to show that when he was driving the truck he was able to control it and that they were satisfied that he could do so. The defendant, Edward Pilkingiton, entered the box and said that he had driven the truck to the Bank of New Zealand corner and when Mrs. Newton suggested that he .should change with Carr he had done so. He had had a few drinks and knew Carr to be a capable driver. To the Senior-Sergeant: He handed the truck over because he felt thei influence of the drinks had had. Senior-Sergeant Carroll : Oh then you admit the offence. That's all. I ■don't want to keep on nagging at you with questions. Mr. Potter said that it was not an ordinary case and made an application for the suppression of the accused's name. The Senior-Sergeant said that Pilkdngton wa.s a good worker and had many good points, but when he came to town he seemed to have a craving for drink. The Bench: He's only one of many bushmen who feel that way when •they come in from the bush. Pilkington was convicted and fined £5 and medieal expensese 10/6, the bench deciding not to caneel his licence if he took out a prohibition order. A month was allowed to pay. Suppression of his name was refused. Arising" out of tho S3.ni 6 cixciHnistances, Goorgo Robort Carr wus convicted and discharged on a charge of driving a motor vehicle without a license.