Examiner Made Wild Guess—Recorder
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A VEHICLE examiner who claimed that there -had been 2-in, play on the front wheels of a lorry had " made a wild guess" and given " reckless evidence" said the Recorder, Mr. J. C. B. Whyte Leonard, at Walsall Quarter Sessions last Friday. After a four-hour hearing, he Upheld the appeal of Mr. S. T. Pickard, a haulage contractor, of Pelsall, against convictions and a 42 fine imposed by Walsall magisstrafes on two summonses relating to the condition of a lorry. Pickard was also awarded costs.
Mr. J. Taylor, the Ministry examiner, said that he tested the steering by rocking the two front wheels from side to side with an iron bar. The edge of each wheel moved a total of 2 in. and he came to the conclusion that the stub pins of the bushes were worn.
The petroj tank was loose and could be moved between 6 in. and 8 in. There was no packing under one of the tank mounting straps, and the packing under the other strap was loose.
After hearing the evidence of the driver, two of the defendant's mechanics and examining the vehicle himself, the Recorder said he did not regard Taylor's evidence as satisfactory. The only examination Taylor made was to stick a bar into the front wheels and make a wild guess.
"No doubt it was done perfectly honestly," he said, "but I do regard it as a wild guess." He did not doubt the integrity of the police officer, who had obviously relied on the examiner to inspect the lorry.
Taylor's evidence that the petrol tank could be moved between 6 in. and 8 in. was "a great exaggeration," and Mr. Leonard was satisfied that it had not 6-5..en loose enough to be dangerous.