An Incident in Doncaster Streets

Thomas Stacey, a well-known farmer, Butterbusk Farm, Conisbrough, was summoned at Doncaster today in charge of being drunk in charge of a pony and trap and was failing to keep to the left on the side of the road at Balby on November 13.

Mr Andrews defended.

The evidence was very contradictory.

Sgt Samwell, was riding on a tramcar from Balby to Doncaster, and at 5.30, when near Furnival Road, he saw five or six people waiting for the car, and defendant’s pony and trap came along on the wrong side or offside of the road.

Defendant had no control over the pony and he ran through the people, knocking a woman down, and 10 yards past the car he ran into Sheard and Binnington’s dray, collided with the nearside of the front wheel.

Defendant was thrown out of the trap and taken to Mr Drury’s house. A doctor was sent for, and witness was satisfied defendant was drunk.

Asked why he thought so, he said his breath smelt “awfully” of whiskey. There was plenty of room for defendant to pass on the proper side.

Evidence in support was given by police constable Wells, whose report on the case was not made until the 24^th; George Greenwood, Carter for Messrs Sheard, Binnington and Co; and Florence Coles, married, Furnival Road, the woman who was knocked down.

In defence the charge was denied. Defendant stated that the pony was very “lively” and recently got struckwith a trolley pole at the tram terminus, which had made it nervous. When near the road leading to the church the curb chain broke, and he could not pull the pony up. Near Furnival road there was a dray and a pair of horses belong to Messrs Hanley meeting him, and if he had kept forward he would have smashed into the dray and the tramcar, and so he guided the pony on the other side. After the accident he was unconscious for a time, and was taking over to Mr Drury’s house.

He had not tasted whiskey or brandy for two years, and the he had had nothing except two bottles of ginger ale that day.

Al Saxton, Carrie, Tickhill; John Smith, ostler at the Angel Auto yard, and William Henry Chapman, manager of the Angel tap, deposed that defendant was quite sober when he had drawn from the yard, and the harness was all right.

The magistrates decided that neither case had been proved and dismissed the summonses.