FURIOUS DRIVING

John Kilburn, a carman, in the employ of Messrs Holland  and Hammond, builders, of Bloomsbury, London, was charged with having, on the 2^nd April, being the driver of a certain waggon and horses on the Sparrows Herne Turnpike Road, being guilty of furious driving, and misbehaviour in interrupting the free passage of the road.

Mr. D Plumb: On Thursday I was driving from Hemel Hempstead with my wife; when at Two Waters, near Hemel Hempstead, defendant was on the wrong side of the road. Afterwards the defendant came round behind with an empty waggon at a rate of fifteen miles an hour. He afterwards challenged me and prevented our going on for a long time. He drove me into the bank. After we got to Kings Langley he pulled up and behaved indecently before myself and my wife. We found the defendant at the Horns public house, Watford. The defendant was partly the worse for liquor.

Michael Scurr: I live at Hemel Hempstead, and was coming from Watford to Hempstead, when I passed the defendant near the Eagle. He was driving at a gallop with a van and two horses.

By the Defendant: You were then at the right side of the road, and were going at an unusual pace.

The defendant denied furious driving, and said he could bring forward a witness to prove that he was not drunk, as alleged by the complainant, Mr Plumb.

In answer to the bench, Police-constable Gregory  said the defendant was not very drunk, although a little the worse for liquor.

Mr Blagg  read a letter from the defendant's employers, in which they gave him an excellent character.

The Chairman said it was a very bad case, but taking into consideration his good character he would be fined 10s and £1/4/0 costs, or one month's imprisonment in default.

The money was paid.

Page created October 2009