Said he was a Frenchman - Hatfield petty sessions

Armond Scolan, of London, pleaded guilty to driving a motor car at excesssive speed and to the danger of the public, at Hatfield, on April 8th. Mr Clark, of St Albans, appeared for the prosecution. P.C.Wright stated that he was on duty near the Rookery at 4.20 p.m. on April 8th, when he saw the defendant driving a motor car at a very excessive speed. There was a lot of cyclists and motor-cars about at the time. He stopped the defendant and inspected his licence. Mr Bishop, of Hatfield, said he was walking from Potters Bar to Hatfield on the day in question when he saw the defendant’s car going at a very excessive speed, and throwing up huge clouds of dust.

Another motor car had to turn down a side road to get out the way. He followed the car up until it was stopped by the Constable. Asked if he had anything to say, the defendant said he could not speak English enough as he was a Frenchman. The Chairman said the Bench could quite understand the broken English he was speaking. The defendant then said it was a new car when he brought it out, and he found that one of the springs was defective. The Chairman said that was no excuse for not having the car under proper control; before he brought it out he must see that it was perfect.

He would be fined £5 and £4.13s.6d. costs.