INTOXICATED MOTORIST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 337, 24 April 1928, Page 15

INTOXICATED MOTORIST

COLLISION WITH POLE FIRFEELL BRINGS POLICE (From Our Orcn Correspondent) TE KUITI, To-day. On charges of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car, and of wrongfully converting a car to bis own use, a young man named Douglas Charles Roulston appeared before Messrs. A. Allison and W. S. Cat *. J.P.’s. in the Te Kuiti Polio- Court yesterday. Accused, for whom Mr Vernon appeared, pleaded guilty to both charges. The police slated defendant was employed as night-watchman in a local garage, and late on Saturday night h;*«i taken a new car which had been garaged there. Accompanied by companions returning home from a dan defendant collided with a telegraphpole at the corner of Duke and Carrol Streets, and seriously damaged the ear. Through a misunderstanding tlm fire-bell was rung by some person, and on arrival of the police accused, who was intoxicated, was arrested. Defendant’s previous record had been a good one. Counsel submitted that accused was not accustomed to taking strong drink, and had been led on by his companions. He was willing to make reparation, and he would be punished in a monetary respect by having to repair the damaged car. On the first charge accused was convicted and fined £5, and his driver’s licence suspended for three months. He was convicted and discharged on the second charge, the Bench holding the view that the offence was more in the nature of a prank ; which had had serious consequences.