INTOXICATION CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1939, Page 7

INTOXICATION CHARGE

MASTERTON.MAN BEFORE .COURT. £lO FINE IMPOSED. Arising out of an accident in Queen Street, Earl Francis Gorringe appeared in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court today on a charge of having been intoxicated while in charge of a motorcar. Mr C. C. Marsack entered a plea of guilty on behalf of defendant. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett said the charge was the outcome of a motor collision at the corner of Queen and Church streets. Gorringe was travelling in a southerly direction and the other car was making a right hand turn into Church Street. Defendant was slightly unsteady and he showed signs of liquor. Dr. J. C. Forsyth certified that he was sufficiently under the influence of liquor to be unable to drive a car. The Senior-Sergeant said that while the accused was not drunk, he had taken sufficient alcohol to impair his judgment. Mr Marsack said it was a very-un-fortunate case. Gorringe was not travelling at excessive speed and the other car made a right-hand turn quickly in front of him. On the face of it, Gorringe was not negligent and was in no way responsible for the accident. He was dazed and badly hurt by the force of the impact. It was not a serious case and had the other car not cut right “across his bows” defendant would never have been before Court. When Dr. G. Cowie examined defendant three-quarters of an hour after the accident he said: “Gorringe did not reveal any marked departure from normal in his powers of co-ordin-ation.” Mr Lawry convicted and fined defendant £lO and £1 Us costs.