INTOXICATED DRIVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 723, 24 July 1929, Page 7

INTOXICATED DRIVER

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE PENALTIES IMPOSED (From Our Ow* Correspondent) WHANGAREI, Tuesday. A charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a car was denied yesterday by Edward George Wright when charged in the Police Court before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M. Senior-Sergeant O’Grady said he saw the defendant at the watch-house at 10.20 p.m. on the day in question, after an accident had taken place. He smelt strongly of liquor and demanded a doctor. He said he was on his right side when the other car struck him. Constable Beasley corroborated the sergeant's evidence, adding that he had seen the defendant at 3.30 in the afternoon when he was much under the influence of liquor. Dr. Ward said he saw defendant after the accident, but would not say he was drunk. E. Chissil, the owner of the other car in the accident, said he was coming toward Whangarei about 9 p.m. Defendant’s car was on the right side until 40yds away, when suddenly it swerved across, striking his car a glancing blow. He questioned defendant, who was unwilling to go to tlio police station, but later consented. Defendant smelt strongly of liquor and was unsteady on his feet. For the defence Dr. H. Good said he examined defendant at 10 p.m. He was practically normal, but there was a slight smell of liquor. Defendant had met with a serious accident in the bush and had a peculiar temperament. Dr. Howard Buckley gave evidence on similar lines. Defendant said he was going home. He saw another car come round the corner, and was dazzled by the headlights, and knew little of the occurrence till after the collision. Several other witnesses were called to show that defendant was not intoxicated when he left town on the journey home.

The magistrate said it was quite plain that defendant was intoxicated. He would be convicted and fined £ls, and have to pay costs £lO 13s. His licence was cancelled until June 1, 1931.