DEATH OF GIRL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 13

DEATH OF GIRL.

DRIVER TOR TRIAL.

COLLISION" WITH CYCLE

CHARGE Or VBOUOBirCE.

(from Oar Correspondent). HUNTLY, Thursday. A verdict that Beryl Byrne, aged 19, *l«d at Hnntly on the night of September 22 from a dislocation of the spine, caused by a collision with a motor car driven on the wrong side of the road by Percy Arnold Stone, was given by the coroner, Mr. P. Harris, at the inquest held at Huntly to-day. Prior to the Inquest Stone was charged in the Huntly Police Court before Meters. F. Harris and W. C. E. George, J.P.'a, with negligently driving on the Great South Road on September 22, thereby causing the death of Beryl Bjrme. When all the evidence had been taken accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial at the next Supreme Court session* at Hamilton. Ball was allowed in one surety of £100 and la accused's own recognisance of £100, James . William Byrne, father of dsosasid, said his daughter left home on her bicycle to attend an ambulance meeting. There was no light affixed to the bicycle, and she used a torch. He could not say whether she had one on thin occasion. Doctor's Opinion. Dr. James Collins, of Huntly, said the girl's Injuries would be consistent with being struck on N the left side by a motor vehicle. John Morgan and Thomas Baker described finding the body on the road. Lola Gwendoline Attrill, a talloress, of Huntly, said she joined a party in a motor car about 0.45 p.m. on September 22. She got into the back seat with Jack Tileley, Bcottle Spiers and Mary lanigan. Stone waa driving, and with him in the front seat was a girl named Rita Lanigan. The car was driven toward Taupiri, and then ont to the Gordonton Road, when it was stopped and a bottle of liquor was drunk by the men. Liquer Allegedly Prodnced. They left this spot about 8.30 p.m. and cam* back to Huntly through Taupiri, continued witness. The car wss stopped at the Huntly end of the Taupiri Gorge, and Stone produced four large bottles of liquor. Ha opened one, which he handed to Spiers and Tllsley, but witness did not see him drink from that bottle. Rita Lanigan told Stone to stop drinking, "seeing he had the car. Stone opened two more "bottles. He drank from ene and put the other down on the floor of the car. He was driving when they started again toward Hnntly. Stone drank from the opened bottle as they went along, and hit a bridge with the mudguard Just after Rita Lanigan had pulled the bottle from his mouth. Rita asked him to stop the car, and he got out to look at the mudguard. Girls' Walk Home. Prior to striking the bridge Stone wan acting rather childishly, witness said. Itita and the other two girls would not (ret back into the car, and started to wnlk toward Huntly. Stone came up to tliem in the car and asked them to get linck into it, but they refused, and the •i r went past them toward Huntly. It niil not appear to be drisan font.

The girls continued walking, and as they approached Tregoweth's bridge Tilsley came to them. He said they had "collected a girl on a bike." He did not know whether ahe waa dead or not, but «aid it would be a miracle if ahe was not. Witnesa said she saw Stone going by the eonvent. She did not aee anything wrong with his condition. When they left the Taupiri Gorge and hit the bridge witness did not consider Stone was in a fit state to drive. That was why the girls bad got out and walked. Sergeant R. O. 'Wade, of Huntly, said he Interviewed Stone immediately after the accident, and he admitted that he was driving at about 40 mile* an hour. Stone said he did not see the girl before the collision. He saw something fly to the aide of the road, and pulled up. He was not sure which part of the road he h(ul been driving on. Witness said accused admitted having two amall bottles of stout abfut 8.30 p..m< He appeared to be eober.