Home Crime Crime Other Day Dreaming – Delinquent Motorist’s Delightful Candour – A Happy Father.

Day Dreaming – Delinquent Motorist’s Delightful Candour – A Happy Father.

June 1928

Mexborough and Swinton Times June 1, 1928

Day Dreaming.
Delinquent Motorist’s Delightful Candour.
A Happy Father.

“I have a confession to make,” said James Taylor, a Huddersfield commercial traveller, who was summoned at Doncaster on Tuesday for having driven a motor-car to the danger of the public at Goldthorpe. And for his frankness he was dealt with leniently and bound over. “You have behaved in a way in which no other motorist charged with such an offence has behaved,” observed the Chairman. (Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough).

The evidence for the prosecution was that on June 11, Ernest Cook, a Brodsworth farmer, was driving a car along Doncaster road, Goldthorpe, on the proper side, and wished to enter Beever street, which was on the other side. He put out his hand, but defendant came up in another car and attempted to pass Cook when the latter was crossing. In order to avoid an accident defendant turned sharply to the right, and in Beever Street ran into a stationary ‘bus. When spoken to by a constable defendant said “I was day-dreaming. I was right on top of him before I realised his hand was out. I am to blame.”

The defendant, giving evidence on his own behalf, said ,”The accident was due to the fact that I did not realise until I was almost on top of the car in front that the driver had his hand cut.

I have a confession to make: My wife had presented me with our first son that week-end, and I had had a very exciting time.

The Chairman: And you had not got over it?

The defendant: No. Probably on this occasion I was building castles in the air. At any rate, I was very close on the car in front when I realised he was turning. I saw that the only way out was to go round the same corner. I saw he was making a wide sweep, and I decided to cut in in front of him. It would have come off if the bus had not been standing there.”

The Chairman: You have made a very frank statement.

Superintendent Minty: I think he has been most fair, and I do not press the case.

The Chairman: If this happy event ever happens again you have better to postpone driving for a week. You have taken the trouble to come here from Huddersfield to answer this charge, and you have behaved in a way in which no other motorist charged with such an offence has behaved. You have been most frank, admitted that you were at fault, and have given us your reasons. You will be bound over.