A CONSCIENTIOUS OFFICIAL
INSPECTOR PROSECUTES HIMSELF. (Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Aug. 7. Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr. James Doyle, City Council Inspector, was prosecutor and also defendant. He charged himself with attempting last Sunday morning to enter a car on the Wellington City tramway while the vehio.e was in motion. It was only a few days ago that the City Council resolved to prosecute all persons boarding or alighting from a moving car. Doyle, as prosecutor, intimated that he, as defendant intended to plead guilty. His Worship: Is defendant a firscoffender ?
Mr. Doyle: Yes, Your Worship, as far as I am aware he has not been convicted before.
At this stage Mr. Doyle relinquished the role as prosecutor,- and pleaded on behalf of himself, as defendant. He expressed sorrow for the breach, and explained that he had not committed the offence intentionally. His excuse was that when on the point of boarding the car opposite the police station he' hailed a certain police official who was alighting from another car. He entered into conversation with the officer. and while talking rested one hand on the handle of the door of the vehicle. The motorman, apparently unaware of this, set the car in motion, with the result that defendant was jerked off his feet and fell to the ground. He pointed out that he had suffered severe injuries, to say nothing of the indignity attached to the occurrence.
His Worship remarked that a case in which prosecutor and defendant were the same person was unusual. Although an officer of the corporation, Mr. Doyle had treated bimself as an ordinary citizen, which his Worship considered was a very honorable and sensible thing to do. Defendant must be convicted and fined the usual amount. “However,” remarked His "Worship, “I must sympathise with defendant, and trust the offence will never occur again.” Defendant was fined 5s with costs 7s. Defendant: Will you allow time, your Worship P His Worship: Twenty-four hours to pay
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GIST19090809.2.24.19
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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2575, 9 August 1909, Page 5
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336A CONSCIENTIOUS OFFICIAL Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2575, 9 August 1909, Page 5
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