JIMMY HILL’S OFFSIDE MOVE FAILED
Coventry City’s manager, Jimmy Hill of 137, Whitemoor Road, explained to the court, how he pulled into an offside position in an attempt to avoid a road accident. Whilst driving along Dalehouse Lane, Mr Hill was involved in the collision with Peter Stubbs of Finham Crescent, who was in court charged with driving without ‘due care and attention’. Mr Hill had brought the case to court himself, not the police. He was hoping the defendant would be shown the ‘red card’.
The crash occurred at the junction of Dalehouse Lane and Common Lane. Mr Hill said; “I saw a car driving towards the end of Common Lane, and I was 30 to 40 yards away from the ‘T’ junction. I expected the car to stop because I was on the main road and had the right-of-way, as I got nearer I realised the car wasn’t going to stop”. He added that he pulled towards the offside in order to go around the car but after braking I skidded, and we collided.
In court, Mr Stubbs said that as he approached the junction he slowed right down and noticed a car coming from the right, about 100 yards away. His intention was to turn right. “I started to move off, I got about a quarter of the way across the road when I realised the car was coming faster than I thought”. To get into the correct position on the road, Mr Stubbs accelerated. He said that the other vehicle was travelling towards him in the centre of the road. He contended that he had driven onto his correct side of the road when the other car hit him, and there should have been room for Mr Hill’s car to pass behind him.
The magistrates did not play ball and the case was dismissed, Mr Stubb’s defence was far too strong for Mr Hill.
BOUGHT TUCK WITH WHAT HE TOOK
A 13-year-old boy contented at the juvenile court that his employer was under paying him. He was charged with stealing money from a milk delivery firm where he was a part-time employee. Inspector Albert Cox said the boy worked for the milk firm and accompanied his employer on his rounds.
After making deliveries on November 29th, the boy returned to base with his employer and whilst counted the takings he slipped five £1 notes into his pocket. In the evening he went to Leamington and treated his friends to a ‘slap-up’ meal. None of other boys asked him where he had got the money. On November 18th, while making deliveries, he slipped more money into his pocket, this time it totalled thirty bob (£1-10s). He also admitted stealing on two other occasions, totalling £2-5s, which he squandered in cafe’s and on a book.
In court, the boy, who was put on probation for two years, said his employer sometimes never paid him, and when he did it was only 5 shillings instead of the apparently agreed 15 shillings.
Mrs. L. Smalley, presiding, told the boy that he should pay more attention to his schooling rather than getting money and spending it in cafe’s. He was ordered to pay a total of 30 shillings in court fees.
COURT HAD A ‘BONE TO PICK’ WITH LORRY DRIVER
Parked in Warwick Road on September 16th last year was a lorry loaded with a pile of bones. It aroused the attention of P. C. Fernie who discovered that the vehicle was not covered by an excise licence (road tax), nor a category ‘C’ licence, for which this size of lorry required. The owner of the lorry, Henry Hales of Coventry, was charged on both offences. He pleaded guilty and was fined £4. He was told to ensure that in future he must get the necessary licences for his vehicle.
ICE CREAM MAN IN A HURRY TO SELL ICES
For exceeding the speed limit in his ice-cream van, the man, Raymond Oughton of Coventry was fined an ice cool £7, and had his licence endorsed. His speed on the Birmingham Road was stated to be between 52 and 56 m.p.h. He pleaded guilty.
TROUBLE WITH WHITE LINE
A Somerset lorry driver who, on November 12th last, was stopped by a police officer for crossing a continuous white line on the Coventry Road. He told a constable; “That’s it, I’ll pack up my job and go on the National Assistance“.
It looks like Thomas Lawrence kept his promise, as he informed the court by letter, that he has been un-employed since December 14th. He was fined £7 for his troubles.
COULDN’T WAIT A FEW MORE DAYS TO HAVE SOME BOOZE
“I have been drinking for the past 12 mouths, so I suppose this will cost me a ‘fiver’, said a Leamington teenager, after he had been asked by a policeman if he was old enough to drink.
Ronald Fripp’s prediction did come true, he was indeed fined a ‘fiver’ for drinking whilst under age.
A police officer had made a routine call at the White Lion public house in Radford Semele, on December 13th. He asked Fripp if he was 18. The youth at first said he was, but later admitted he was only 17. His 18th birthday was only eight days away.
In court, Fripp said; “I just went in for a game of darts and looked upon myself as being 18“. For buying drinks for Fripp, John Roche of Leamington, was also fined a ‘fiver’. Their attitude while being questioned in the pub was described as being ‘flippant and arrogant’.