HIGHWAY TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 13

HIGHWAY TRAGEDY

FINDING OF BODY

TRUCK DRIVER FOR TRIAL

(By Telegraphs-Tress. Association.)

INVERCARGILL, October 30

The'story of the finding of a dead body beside a wrecked motor-cycle on Ithe. main 'road near Woodlands on, October 22 was-related in the Magis-| itrate's Court today, '.when a 'hit-and* run"" allegation, was made against a ■ truck.driver who 'fated, two,.indictable counts. The accused' was Charles ■Michael Hughes; . .Gore, who was .charged; with, negligent driving causing. death and' with failing to. give all practicable assistance to. a person hurt in !aa accident.. The motor-cyclist who, iwas killed, was' William George Seddon :Parker,, Mataura.. '.■>. '. It was stated "in- evidence by a girl aged. 16s'. whose name- was suppressed: ihat'she: had been a passenger'with tlie, accused-'on. a- tru6k on the night-of the' ■accident... Near: Woodlands : they, saw a motor-cycle approaching; The truck was travelling: on its- correct side and; the. motor-cycle - would be nearer-the-'middle- of the roadi'. She- did not know ■ arty.tiling: had happened'until she heard' the roar of the motor-cycle. ..She then looked! through a window, and saw. sparks-'from-, the cycle/ She-could not ' say whether, either, vehicle swerved after the impacfe' The moi'or-cycle was 'on "the: right- side,.gping.tovlhvercargillL ' She got out of the truck and1 ran back and. saw a man lying on the left side of the road. Hughes was driving, ithe. truckr-afc the-time andi he did not isay anything: to> teet when ,he stopped the- truck.. The.- deceased's head was i on', the left side of the -road, with .his legs' pointing to the motor-cycle,, which was. on the.road.. The.', engine j was still roaring and' Hughes, stopped it.. ■■. They ran back'to the truck and went. away to- DiptonC'said witness. Before they left she told the, accused it would, be- best to, report : the- ;matter, 'and he' sa-Ml "BB: yous db'.'that, ' I'll, get five s years.!" The'accused toldl her to tell 'anybody who/ aske'di questions that: they were on the KeLvin Road instead, of the East Road,'and' that they were ;to- attend' a- dance- at"; Wanton. Neither.. <she nor the • accusedi. looked, at tlie lorry. Th/ey-.went, to.Dipton and bothstayed, the., night, there.. Next morning: I they went on to- Gore, arriving about, 'll 30" a.nr.' 'On .the^ way. ' back . from: Dipton they called;* at,' Donald - Macdonald's af Gore,'where the accused: left the truck. .The accused later tolch her he lrad changed trucks , • with has-, partner and told'her the -difference1 betweero those' trucks:.. Hey'sald one hadi white on. it: and the-* other .had not, iHiughea; told her site "had! .to1 -keep low.. •The-police: caHe.dtaJsee'.her at. 2 o'clock in the morning,.- : -. - - ■ Nineteen; .otfter fitnesses for the prosecution gave evidence. Thffi..a.acused...plead'ed-:. not guilty to ieacn, chargftandlw.aSj.cDmmitted to the; .Supreme .Court- for" 'trial-..', ; Bail wasrefused! ■ "'•'.• ' .'..■- • --' • •..