South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 25 May 1934
Heading for Disaster
Conisboro’ Man Warned
For having ridden a motor-cycle without Road Fund licence, driving licence and insurance policy, and for failing to stop for a constable in uniform, an unemployed Conisborough miner, Alexander Forde, was fined a total of £4 10s. and disqualified for driving for a year, at Doncaster on Wednesday.
P.C. Heaver said at 4-40 p.m. on February 25th he was in Boat Lane, Sprotboro’, when he saw a motor-cyclist and pillion passenger acting in a suspicious manner on the river bank. The machine came towards him but when 20 yards away was stopped and turned round. He shouted to the driver who, instead of stopping, started his machine and rode off by a bridle path towards Conisborough.
Witness secured the number of the machine and later interviewed defendant, who said, “You have been a long time coming. I did not think I was doing wrong there as it is not a road.”
When he was told for what he would be reported, defendant replied, “Can’t you add one or two more?”
Defendant told the magistrates he had only ridden on the river bank which, he thought, was not a taxed road. He disputed riding away from the constable whom, he said, he never saw.
A Conisborough constable said Forde would not work. He was an associate of bad characters.
The Magistrates’ Clerk: “Forde, you are heading for disaster. You are going the wrong way. You have been here before.”
When told the fines, Forde asked, “Can’t you make it a bit lighter? I cannot pay.”
He was told to pay at the rate of 5s. a week. The alternative was 28 days.