j Watts, in evidence, said his car Was proceeding at about 10 miles lan hour. He swerved to avoid the other car, and so struck the policeman.
The Magistrate—If your car was {going as slowly as you state, there was no need to swerve. Had it been travelling et 10 miles an hour there would have been no difficulty in avoiding the policeman.
In remarking that he was excited and lost his nerve, defendant said that some one else in the car distracted his attention from the whee] for a moment. He had no other explanation and was very sorry for what had happened.
In_ imposing a fine of $20, the Magistrate observed that there was no doubt that the defendant was driving negligently. He had, moreover, disobeyed the police signal. "It would have have been a serious matter if your car had killed the policeman; it would have meant a charge of manslaughter," said his Worship. If I am lenient in this case, it will be no deterrent to others. A motor-car is a dangerous weapon."
Defendant was granted time in which to pay the fine.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.