“Hit-And-Run Drivers Among Meanest Men’,” Toronto Star. April 4, 1941. Page 8.
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Toronto Motorist to Serve 20 Days in Jail, in Lieu of Fines
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SCORES BY BENCH
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‘One of the meanest things I know is for a man to get into an accident and then try to run away to avoid having to pay for it,’ declared Magistrate W. E. McIllveen in Etobicoke police court at Mimico yesterday. He sentenced Arvno Suomela, Spadina Ave., Toronto, to fines and costs totaling $45 on charges of careless driving and neglecting to return to the scene of an accident. A charge of drunk driving was dismissed.
‘Your chauffeur’s license will also be automatically cancelled for three months,’ the magistrate told Suomela.
‘Your worship,’ pleaded accused, ‘who was not presented by counsel, ‘it’s my only way of making a living. I have a wife and child, and it’s my birthday today.’
‘All right then, I’ll make the cancellation for only one month. That is for a birthday present,’ the bench assented.
Constable John Iceton said two cars had been side-swiped by accused’s car on Dundas St. west of Islington. ‘Suomela was too drunk to drive,’ he said. ‘When I locked him up, he started a commotion in the cell. Accused admitted having some wine earlier in the afternoon.
‘You went over a mile before you were stopped,’ Magistrate McIllveen observed, imposing a fine of $25 and costs for failing to return, and an additional $10 and costs for careless driving. Alternative in both cases was 10 days. Suomela said he would take the jail term of 20 days and was allowed the six days he had already spent in custody.