Driver Refused to Dodge the Issue of his ‘Wobbling Car’
The solicitor defending a Kenilworth man, declared to the Magistrates: “He says he was fairly treated by the police and did not want me to be clever, he has also refused to allow me to look into this and seek out loop-holes in the prosecution’s case“. William Eric Barnes, of Castle Hill, was charged with drunken driving and careless driving.
He pleaded guilty on both counts and was fined a total of £30. He was disqualified for a year and his licence endorsed. “By his mental attitude to the offence, Barnes had tortured himself”, said his solicitor. Prosecuting, Inspector Albert Cox, said the defendant had stopped his car on Gibbett Hill and the car behind him was forced to stop. Then Barnes rolled backwards into the car. Just as one of the passenger’s in the car behind went to walk up to Barnes’s car, he drove off. The other car then followed him and during the journey Barnes ‘wobbled’ and swerved his car all over the road. Barnes eventually stoped when he reached the Virgins & Castle public house. The other car stopped and the driver went up to Barnes’s car and opened the driver’s door, at which point the defendant almost fell out into the road. He was later examined by a police surgeon and certified unfit to drive. In other words he was drunk as a judge.
When charged, Barnes said: “I have heard all this on the films but I did not know it could happen to me in real life“. Defending him, his solicitor said the incident had occurred after a Christmas luncheon party on December 21st. Barnes had been drinking spirits and before he went home in the evening he had three pints of beer. His solicitor added; “Mr Barnes has made a firm resolution that he will not take any drink whenever he drives in the future”. (We’ll drink to that!)
Parents did not Approve of Marriage
In the hope that the two parties can resolve their differences and need not come back to court, the magistrates adjourned the case for three months of the application by 18-year-old Margeret Storey, of Dudley Road to marry Ernest Cairns of Coventry.
The girl’s parents objected to the intended marriage until their daughter was older and the couple had saved enough money to buy a house.
Miss Storey said she had known her fiance for about two and a half years. We have not looked for anywhere to live yet because it is not much use until we get consent to marry, I am earning £7 a week and we have got about £50 worth of ‘bottom drawer’ stuff as well as about £130 in the bank. If we get married we will live in Coventry and save up to buy a house.
She is willing to promise the magistrates that she would not get married untill she and her fiance have found adequate rooms. We are going to be married in a Roman Catholic Church and I want to be received into the church before we go ahead.
Failed to Register as an ‘Alien’
It was emphasised by Mrs G. Mills (chair) of the court about the importance of foreigners employed in this country conforming to the registration regulations. A fine of £1 was imposed on a German girl living with a family in Common Lane, under an Au Pair agreement.
She had failed to register as an ‘Alien’. Through a member of the family with whom she is staying, the girl pleaded quilty to failing to notify a change of address to a registration officer within 72 hours of re-locating. Inspector S. J. Wall said the offence came to light as a result of a communication from Bolton police, the town where she had lived prior to coming to Kenilworth. When she had called at Kenilworth Police Station the officer told to return with all her documents but she did not come back.
Mrs Mills, said only a small fine would be imposed, but the girl must understand how neccessary it is to register with the police when changing her address.
Betwixt and Between
Milkman Harold Payne, of Clarkes Avenue, now knows the feelings a lump of pastry experiences when it is moved twixt rolling pin and boards. In April, he was standing between two vehicles and while still upright was rolled one way – then the other. This was Mr Payne’s experience that was described in court.
The incident occured in Worcester Road where Mr Payne had stopped his milk float to deliver some pinta’s. When he was walking alongside, a car driven by the defendant, Harold Sillifant, attempted to overtake. The vehicles were so close that the car pinned Mr Payne against the side of his float and he was rotated between the vehicles. When Mr Payne yelled out, Sillfant, it was alleged, went into reverse causing the milkman to be rolled back again to where he had started from. On the ‘return trip’, Mr Payne did more than hoot, he thumpt on Sillifant’s car as well as shouting: “For God’s sake, stop”.
Inspector Albert Cox, said that so tightly was Mr Payne squeezed that his body left an impression on the side of his vehicle. He was lucky not to have any serious injuries.
Sillifant, of Worcester Road, was charged with driving ‘without due care and attention’ and was fined £5 with £1-16 in costs, plus an endorsement on his licence.