THE BLASTIFEROUS ROAD HOG.

NZ Truth, Issue 79, 22 December 1906, Page 6

THE BLASTIFEROUS ROAD HOG.

Verdict of Manslaughter. The motor hog is beginning to make himself felt m Maoriland with a vengeance. He goes about at express rate or faster— often faster— and imagines he is riding m a Vanderbilt freak road race, and that he is winnine: hard held, or words to that effect. There may be something exhilarating m cutting through space, but the safety of the public is imperilled, and not only that but the safety of j the riders and drivers, or chauffeurs themselves. But the odds are that' the man on the road m front of the motor car is the chap for whom felatives will have to pay coffin expenses. Then with regard to these motorists there '. are associations of them which go to ' court and fight any oase m which one of their number is charged with breaking the law by cutting through space IN CYCLONIC FASHION. The late Christchurch case m which George de Montalk met his death w^as a sad one. He was a motor car agent, but wasn't driving. They ran

jnlo a night cart belonging to the Riccarton Road Board, Mon talk passed out instantly, and W. T. Felton, the driver, sustained such .injuries that he is still suffering therefrom. It was a gay and festive party that went careering round that night— De Montalk, F'elton, Henderson, T. R. Denniston, Crosbie Smith and Stewart Lightband. They had a few drinks round town, and returned the machine to the garage of Turnbull and Jones, where three of them work. Then they took out a beautiful large car, a Wolesley, which didn't belong to the firm, but to the Christchurch Meat Company, and went for a spin round the country. This was as late as 10 p.m., but 25 minutes later they were calling for wines at the Hals-* well Hotel, and later on at Prebbleton. Then they made for Christchurch, Felton driving, and when near the Plough Inn • they ran Into the Road Board's cart. The motor catwas

ON THE WRONG SIDE of the road, and the only impression that could be gained was that when Feltbn was looking at the petrol gauge he leaned , rather heavily on one side of the steering gear, thus, causing the car to swerve, And that caused the accident. Nobody had any authority to' take the car out of Turn-bull and Jones' ; it was there for repairs and storage. That the motor was on jtlre wrong side of the road was admitted by all the witnesses who tes- [ tified at the inquest, . but the rate of speed was disputed. They weye flying along at the rate of from 20 to 25 miles an hour 0 u leaving Prebbleto n , and at the time of the collision Felton admitted- they were going at from' 10 to 15 miles an hour. Whether drink was responsible for the unfortunate affair . is, a matter for conjecture, but at all events the witnesses said they only took shandies— and only six of them. Felton, m his evidence, said he was quite sober when the accider' - r,n- ' a-id couldn't -\r.e o i.v,i for the car swerving to the wrong side oi _h_. " iioiou&h.are. When he SAW THE NIGHT CART ahead of him he didn't slow down, during the period of ' uncertainty ; the liriit on the cart was a dim one. He was a very careful driver, witness went on, but had been fined for driving thirty miles an hour ! Coroner Bishop, m addressing tne jury, animadverted on the fact, of these young men taking a motor car out without, authority, eroin*' for r di.'c late at nidit. calling at pubs -and inducing 'piil*.li'can'< to break th? law by servin ,v '. them with rcroa;, and taking v.hpt was lo'' his. mind more than was nord for 'hem. ' Ml-r-r reviewing the facts Ihe jury returned 'a, verdict that DE MOXTALK MET HIS DEATH i- owing tp the neglect . of William 'J'h.-!-'.:K.s Felton m riTiv.ii'>; on the v.r.-n.' side of Uh- . road.:. As this. was equivalent to a verdict oi manslaughter I'Vli'.n Wei:, -ov tie red into tlie dock and 'c-V-ra'iifd with 'he oftoice. A remand was' f.-"T-.nvcd, hail fixed, and the accused left the court crying like . a child. WlvMhtrtlie result of this escalade- wiM'.lr.ye a. tend-n^v to stop the blastiferous road-ho;?' remans to be seen: it nrol abl v won't.