INTOXICATED IN CHARGE OF CAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 42, 12 May 1927, Page 9

INTOXICATED IN CHARGE OF CAR

MOTORIST FINED £3s— AS A DRIVER FOR TWO YEARS think he had a beer or two more than he should have had,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning, and in the next breath handed out a £35 fine to Alfred Roy Wilson Eliis, and cancelled his licence for two years. Ellis, who ran into the safety zone in Symonds Street, near Grafton Bridge, late Monday afternoon, and damaged his car considerably, was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motorcar. Traffic-Inspector Blazey told the court how he had questioned Ellis after the accident and asked to see his licence. The man produced last year’s licence with the corner torn off, and said that he would go and get the missing piece. The traffic man told him that this was not necessary. However, Ellis made off down Karangahape Road with the traffic inspector in pursuit. “He turned into Belgium Street,” said Mr. Blazey, “and fell to the ground. He picked himself up and ran on and fell again.” The inspector caught him and turned him over to a constable, who took him to the Newton Police Station. At Ellis’s request a doctor was called (after ringing eight different medical men), but in the certificate produced the doctor, who saw him an hour or so after the accident, was unable to say that he was under the influence of liquor then. Two constables gave evidence that Ellis was undoubtedly drunk. An empty demijohn had been found in the car.

Mr. J. J. Sullivan, who fought Ellis’s losing legal battle for him, told the court that his client was not drunk, but suffering from shock as a result of the accident. He had injured his ribs and shoulder as well as cutting his face, and might have to hav? an operation as a result. His falling was due to absolute weakness.

In the witness box Ellis explained that a bus which he was following had swerved suddenly to the right, giving him the choice between ramming it or the safety zone. He had been to Onehunga that afternoon and had had only three “half handles.” He had had a bottle of lemon squash while the other men drank the jar of beer, he told the Bench, and called his friends to support this statement. The magistrate was incredulous, however, and Ellis, as a result, will not drive a car in Symonds Street or anywhere else for that matter until some time in May, 1929.