Doctor Cleared On Driving Charges

December 1947

South Yorkshire Times, December 13, 1947

Cleared On Driving Charges

After a ten minutes’ retirement, Doncaster Borough Magistrates on Friday dismissed charges against Dr. James Watson Richmond (4 a 2), Blythe House, Conisbrough, alleging that he drove a car in Cleveland Street and Warmsworth Road, Doncaster, when under the influence of drink or drug; that he drove a car dangerously, and alternatively that he drove without due care and attention. The defence was not called upon.

Richmond, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. D. Dunn (Rotherham). A

The police surgeon, Dr. Robert Glover, said he was of the opinion on examining Richmond that he was unfit to be in charge of a car, but he was not satisfied that his condition was wholly due to alcohol.

In answer to Mr. Dunn, Dr. Glover said that Richmond told him that he had served ten years in the Indian Army, and on several occasions had had serious attacks of malaria. His blood pressure was high and this could cause Richmond to be excitable and account for his rapid pulse rate, which was sometimes indicative of mental anxiety.

He further agreed that a quantity 1 of shellfish which Richmond had had for his tea, andwhiccohu_respurlottdabiny him being taken Ill, could probably account for the condition in which he was found.

He thought that Richmond was not incapable of having proper control of the car due to drink alone. Addressing the Bench. Mr. Dunn said the prosecution had possibly recognised that there were grave discrepancies in parts of the evidence, and had therefore put the two additional charges in since the original charge of driving while under the influence of drink, saying to themselves that if they couldn’t “get him on the roundabouts, they would get him on the swings.”

Mr. Dunn said the Bench had heard the scrupulously fair evidence of Dr. Glover, that Dr. Richmond’s condition, analysed step by had the same symptoms as those of a man suffering from blood pressure