Birmingham Police Court: Today: Before the Stipendiary (Mr. T. M. Colmore): … Obstruction by Motor Car: A summons for obstruction was heard against Frank Lanchester, motorcar manufacturer of Lincoln’s Inn, Corporation Street. Police constable Taylor stated that on March 10th he saw a motor car standing outside Lincol’s Inn in Corporation Street, at 6.50. A large crowd collected, and a tram pulled up. The driver stated that he could not get past. No one came to the car till ten minutes past seven, when the defendant came out of chambers. Witness told him the car had caused an obstruction and asked for his card. This, the defendant produced, and gave it to the officer together with a shilling, which, however, he declined to receive. For the defence, Mr. Smith (Messrs. Smith, Pinsent, and Co.) contended that the car itself caused no obstruction, but, if there was an obstruction, it was caused by the crowd and the defendant was not responsible for this. Defendant himself gave evidence, stating that when left the car at 6.50, and when he came out again at 7.5, there was no crowd nearby. In reply to the Stipendiary, he admitted offering the officer 1s, but he said he did this because of the trouble he had been put into. It was not with the intention of bribing him, and had he thought he would have been summoned he would not have done it. The Stipendiary remarked that it was a mistake and advised him not to do it again. Mr. Arthur Smith, solicitor, corroborated. The Stipendiary said he believed every word the police had said and thought they had given their evidence most fairly. It was clear there had been obstruction, and imposed a fine of 10s and costs …
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