WOMAN TO STAND TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 103, 3 May 1929, Page 10

WOMAN TO STAND TRIAL

ALLEGED NEGLIGENT DRIVING. MAN KILLED ON ROAD. ANOTHER SEVERELY INJURED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Mrs. Isabella Mabel Stanley was today committed for trial on a charge that she so negligently drove a motor ! car that she caused the death of Stephen James Johnson. Johnson was killed on February 21. His companion, Edmund Albert Boldero, was also struck by the car, and he was severely injured. Both men belonged to the Auckland district, and were on holiday. While evidence was being given against her, accused collapsed in the dock, where she had been seated. She was assisted from the Court, and when she returned the magistrate allowed her to sit with her husband. Donald John Macdonald, a farm I labourer, said that just before the accident he saw a car, driven by a woman, travelling at an unusual speed on the wrong side of the road. As it turned the corner it was accelerated and it shot over to the right-hand side. Woke Up Some Days Later. Boldero, a gardener, of Takapuna, said he had arranged to meet Johri6on, and the last he remembered was hurrying to join him. He woke up several days later in hospital. He had had no liquor on the day of 'he accident. Alexander Whisker, railway fuel supervisor, stated that after the accidant defendant repeated two or three times "They would not get out of piy way." Daniel Andrews, salesman, of Dunedin, said that Johnson was quite sober when he left the People's Palace with Boldero. Witness noticed a car coming up Manchester Street on the wrong side collide with a taxi travelling in the opposite direction. The mudguards touched, and the taxi was forced into the gutter. The other car turned into Belfast Street on its wrong side, and he saw one of two men pull at the other, but they were both struck. The woman ran toward them and said, in a hysterical way: "I told you what would happen. Didn't I tell you to get out of the road?" She asked witness if the men were badly hurt. Witness replied: "I don't think one has long to live." "Oh, don't say that," she exclaimed, and then fainted. Charles Robert Killick said the sun was eliining right into the driver's eyes as the car turned into Belfast Street. The car's speed was etimated by other witnesses at 12 to 25 miles an hour. Suffering from Nervous Trouble. Constable Schrafft stated that when he interviewed Mrs. Stanley she was in a hysterical condition, and was saying, "Oh, tell me what has happened. I did not see any man until too late." She said she was under a doctor's orders owing to nervous trouble. She was told that driving the oar would strengthen her nerves. Witness examined the car later, and found it in good order. Although he could not say the accused's breath smelled of liquor it sraelled of something similar. Mr. Sargent, for the defence, said that he wished to call an eye-witness of the accident who had been called at the inquest. She had volunteered to give evidence that the two men were the worse for liquor, and were arguing and talking loudly. Counsel contended that if all the circumstances were explained no jury in New Zealand would convict. "By calling this witness you would only complicate the position for me," said Mr. Levvey, S.M. "If the evidence were diametrically opposed to that of the police, it would still be a matter for the jury to decide." Accused was allowed bail.