DRUNK IN CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1938, Page 8

DRUNK IN CHARGE

MAURICEVILLE FARMER FINED SEQUEL TO COLLISION “This is not a case where I think I should send him to gaol,” stated Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning when convicting A. W. Campbell, a farmer, of Mauriceville, on a charge of being drunk in charge of a motor-car. Campbell was fined £lO and costs £1 16s, and was prohibited from obtaining a driver’s licence for three years. He was also ordered to take out a prohibition order in accordance with his own undertaking. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett stated .that last Saturday evening defendant was seen driving along High Street in an erratic manner. He was more or less an obstruction to the traffic, and eventually got over on to the wrong side of the road, where he collided with a greengrocer’s cart drawn up alongside of the kerb. Defendant had owned a motor-car for some time, but after failing to pass the test for a licence some two years ago he had made no further effort to get one.

“This is a very sad case indeed,” remarked Mr T. Jordan, who appeared for Campbell. “The defendant is a single man living on his own on a farm at Mauriceville,” added Mr Jordan,” “where for want of good company, he had got into bad company.” On the evening of the offence, defendant had been driven to Carterton in his own car by a companion, who brought him back drunk. His companion left him in the car drunk, and defendant, had no recollection of what had happened. The magistrate convicted and fined, defendant as stated above.