Roy Colgate, of 37, Long Acre, London, was charge with driving a motor car to the danger of the public at North Mymms on August 9th, and pleaded not guilty.
Mr J. H. Murphy appeared for the prosecution.
P.C. Baldock stated that on August 9th he was standing in the Hatfield Road, Little Heath, when he saw a car coming from the direction of Potters Bar, the speed he should think being no less than 35 miles per hour. As a rule there was a lot of traffic on this road; there were four turnings within about 250 yards, and five private carriage entrances. He went into the road and called the driver to stop. He put on the brakes, but as soon as he got past the witness he let the breaks [sic] go and went down the hill as fast as ever. The car was numbered LC 7856.
In answer to the defendant, witness said there was one carriage on the road; he could not see any more because of the dust. Albert Goodchild, coachman to Mr A. Thompson, stated that he was at Little Heath and saw what happened, and which the Constable correctly described. He considered the defendant was going at a dangerous speed; it was a busy road as a rule.
P.C. Hadder, of Hertford, said that on August 23rd he went to 4, King Street, St. James’, to see the defendant and could not find him there. He afterwards saw him at Long Acre and told him of the offence and he replied “I was driving a car myself in that district on that day. I was not aware I had committed an offence; I did not see the policeman to my knowledge”. Defendant said that he remembered afterwards he did see a policeman. The car he was driving was making a considerable amount of noise as it was damaged, and he suggested that that was the cause of the officer thinking it was going to the danger of the public. There was no traffic in the road except one cart. He had had a license two years and had never had a mark upon it.
Defendant was fined £2 2s. and £1 16s. costs.
Mr Murphy stated that in fairness to the defendant he should like to say that he gave the police every information it was possible to give. As a rule it was very difficult to get information from motor-car drivers.
[Mr Thompson did not adjudicate in this case. ]
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