In a riveting court session at the Limerick City Petty Sessions, Major Hickman of Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, found himself in the legal crosshairs. The charge: a violation of the Motor Car Act, accused of dangerously speeding through the bustling streets of Limerick. The case unfolded before the discerning eyes of Mr E. F. Hickson, R.M. (presiding), the Mayor, and a panel of esteemed council members.

Sergeant Kennedy, the key witness, painted a vivid picture of the alleged offence. On the fateful day, around 10:20 a.m., he observed Major Hickman’s motor car hurtling down Sarsfield Street, narrowly missing a cyclist at a busy intersection. The Sergeant claimed the motorist swerved perilously close, exhibiting a blatant disregard for public safety. Notably, the motorist sounded his horn a mere twenty yards before the intersection, leaving little room for reaction.

Under cross-examination by Mr Dodd, the defendant’s solicitor, Sergeant Kennedy conceded that assessing the exact speed was subjective, but he maintained the Major’s velocity at an alarming 13 to 15 miles per hour. Major Hickman’s defence rested on his assertion that he had honked the horn well in advance and was travelling at a modest eight to nine miles per hour.

Mrs. Hickman corroborated her husband’s version of events, while Mr Q.G. Delmege, a witness, vouched for Major Hickman’s reputation as a careful driver. Delmege even recounted taking the same journey with the accused on the alleged day, disagreeing with the Sergeant’s assessment of the speed.

In a surprising turn, the Bench dismissed the case, signalling a victory for Major Hickman. The courtroom tension lifted, leaving a sense of relief and a reaffirmation of the defendant’s standing as a responsible motorist.

Weekly Freeman’s Journal – Saturday 04 June 1910