‘Slow driving’ cause of traffic lights road collision
HERE in our regular nostalgia feature we look back at stories in the Rochdale Observer from years gone by. Following on from last year’s 100 years ago feature, this year, we are turning back the clock to see what was being reported on 80 years ago:
●●REMANDED IN CUSTODY
THOMAS Duckworth (26), of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody for a week on a charge of stealing from the dwelling house 321, Albert Royds Street between March 2 and 4 a suitcase valued at five shillings, the property of Emily Cotton.
Detective Constable
Faulkner said he interviewed the prisoner on Sunday at Wigan Borough Police Station, where he was being detained, and when questioned about the suitcase he said he was under the impression that it was his own.
Superintendent French stated that other charges might be preferred against Duckworth.
●●STOPPING TRAFFIC
PETER McCabe (69), of no fixed abode, who was charged with having been drunk and incapable in Halifax Road on Saturday, was stated by P.C. Tyler to have been staggering in the roadway and causing motor cars to have to pull up sharply.
McCabe admitted the offence and added that he was not used to taking a drink.
He had ‘a couple’ and fell against a wall, injuring his face.
Prisoner was discharged under the Probation of Offenders Act.
●●COMMITTAL SUSPENDED
ROBERT Smalley (48) of 8, Godbert Avenue, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, admitted owing £29, 12s. 6d. to his wife Eliza Smalley under a maintenance order for the payment of 12s. 6d weekly made by the court in January, 1933.
He said the reason he had not paid regularly was because he had been ‘in and out of work’ during the last twelve months. He expected to begin work next week and promised to pay 12s. 6d. weekly and 2s. 6d. each week off the arrears.
Smalley was committed to prison for two months, the committal to stand suspended as long as he pays as promised.
●●‘GOING SLOWLY – LIGHTS CHANGED’
FOR having failed to conform to the traffic signals when driving a motor car at the junction of Oldham Road and Kingsway on February 20, Arthur Nutter (60) of 863, Walmersley Road, Bury, was fined 10s. and ordered to pay £1, 5s witness fees.
PC (47) Jones stated that the signals showed red when defendant drove out of Kingsway into Oldham Road and that on the crossing his car collided with the rear of a car proceeding along Oldham Road towards the town Centre.
John Thomas Hoyle of St. Anne’s-on-Sea, the driver of the car proceeding along Oldham
Road, said the lights were in his favour. Both witnesses agreed that defendant was driving slowly.
Nutter, who pleaded not guilty, said when he was ten yards from the lights, they showed green and he did not notice them again.
He was driving slowly, keeping his eye on children who were playing, and the lights changed before he got over the crossing.
●●‘NO WARNING – A MEAN TRICK’
FOR leaving a motor lorry without lights in a public passage between Derby Street and Leicester Street at 8.55pm on February 24, William Kershaw (18) of 32, Hereford Street was fined five shillings in each of two summons.
Defendant told the magistrates that he thought it was a mean trick for the police not to have warned him first.
He had left the lorry there every night for a fortnight and thought it was a cul-de-sac.