Mexborough and Swinton Times, June 21, 1929
An Unlucky Last Ride
Harry Anderson, grocer of Conisborough, was summoned at Doncaster on Tuesday for driving a motor-car in a manner dangerous to the public at Warmsworth, on Sunday, May 26.
Mr. A. S. Furniss defended.
Sergt. Hutchinson said he was at a road crossing at Warmsworth, where a Doncaster Corporation tram was standing, and a motor-bus was coming alongside in the opposite direction. Defendant came from the direction of Sheffield, and round the corner at a speed which witness estimated to be 30 miles per hour, and a collision occurred between defendant’s car and the ‘bus. The danger was the speed of the car, and defendant driving on the wrong side of the road. When told he would be reported, defendant replied. “All right.”
Cross-examined, witness said as defendant came round the bend, he thought “defendant was absolutely lost, and he thought he would pick them up dead.” In witness’s opinion, defendant could have seen the ‘bus, because both the tram and the ‘bus were well lighted. The time was 10.55 p.m.
Defendant on oath, said he had been driving the car six and a half years during which time it had been insured, but the insurance had run out as he had received an offer of £60 for it, and he intended to sell it. He had never had an accident.
He was dismissed from the Denaby pit three months earlier. Though described as a grocer, he was not as it was his wife who had a grocery business in Conisborough. He had no interest in the business. He was not in employment, and was not getting unemployment pay. He was dismissed from the pit on account of a dispute with the management. He could not afford to have the car repaired, and it was not worth repairing. The reason he drove round the corner and past the tram on the right side was that two passengers in the car spoke to him as he drove round the corner This was the last time he was driving the car.
Defendant was fined £2.