TOOK DRUG.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1938, Page 5

TOOK DRUG.

BECAME AUTOMATON.

HIS CAR KILLED A MAN. FAMOUS ARTIST'S MISTAKE. SYDNEY, December 31. With senses dulled by a powerful sedative drug taken in mistake for a tonic, a human automaton was loose at midnight on November 30, behind the wheel of a modern car. Careering along the streets of Melbourne at a terrific s[»ecd, the car killed a man, father of six children, and roared on without stopping.

The human automaton, central figure in this midnight tragedy, was William Beckwith, Mclnnes, foremost Australian portrait painter, who by command painted the Duke of York, now His Majesty King George VI.

Mclnnes, ashen and trembling, sat between two doctors at the Coroner's Court «. few days ago, and. despite a warning that further proceedings might be taken, he elected to give evidence.

He had taken an overdose of a drug, believing it was tonic medicine, and while driving his car became completely under the s|>ell of the drug, and drove automatically for miles through the streets. Covering his face with both hands lie cried, "Thank God I do not remember!"

It was during an inquiry held by Mr. Tingate, P.M., into the death of James Lowray, about 43, who was killed almost instantly in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. A fast-moving car hurtled him to the roadway, did not stop, and was said to have greatly increased its speed, savs "Truth's" Melbourne representative.

Mclnnes. against whom a police charge of driving a car while under the influence of alcohol was pending, was represented by Mr. A. L. Reid. Mr. Jack Galbally appeared on behalf of the relatives of Lowray and Sergeant Gilbert assisted the coroner. Serious Study. A brilliant painter, Mclnnes displayed his ability when only 14. He began serious .study immediately at the National Gallery, and later studied in Europe. Strangely enough, his first successful painting was a study of bereavement; a mother bending sorrowfully over a cradle and her husband standing by with a comforting hand on her shoulder. He called it "The Empty Cradle."

Mclnnes rapidly became worldrenowned, and liis paintings were widely displayed. In " Australia he painted many notabilities, the first of whom was Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, then Governor-General, and, among his later works was a portrait of Prime Minister Lvons.

Now comes the extraordinary story, told by himself and witnesses before the coroner of events at midnight on November 30, when, according to doctors, Mclnnes ceased to be a natural man, and became a human automaton.

Too ill to go into the witness box, Mclnnes told his story from a chair in the body ot the Court. His family had gone to the theatre and he to his studio in Russell Street to work on an important commission. He did not feel well and drank the remainder of the contents of a bottle, believing it was tonic. Actually he had drunk between three and four grains of a sedative drug.

He lay down, he could not say for how long ... a feeling of well-being came over him. He decided to go home, and as a steadiej took a small whisky. He started his car and drove ... he saw tlfe fire brigade headquarters at Eastern Hill and said he remembered no more. He could not even feel the drug acting.

Next thing he remembered, he said, was seeing shadowy things moving about him and hearing people talking of an accident and of a man who was dead, but he did not connect their words with himself.

That was all William Beckwith Mclnnes could remember of the night of November 30. l>ut . . .

Albeit Thomas, tramway man, of Matlock Street, West Preston, standing at the corner of Johnston and Brunswick Streets, said the portrait painter's car came along at high speed, tore straight into James Lowray, who was crossing the road, spun him in the path of another car (which missed him), increased its speed to (>0 miles an hour, and, with a loud screaming noise, went I on. j Constable Henry Absalom said that the loud screaming noise caused by the mudguard being bent against the* tyre as it turned out, attracted his attention. He saw the car was minus one light and he put up his hand. ; He said the ear bore down on top of him at 40 miles an hour. Suddenly j the nose dipped sharply, brakes screeched and the car pulled up, but I Mclnnes remained in the driver's seat J staring strangely at him.

Before he could question him about the absence of one headlight, Mclnnes said: "I didn't hit anybody. I'm not drunk; I've had only a few whiskies."

In a short time, in response to a message, Dr. Henry Talbot Hamilton arrived, and then came the sensational announcement that Molnnes was unconscious and had been for some time; that he was only a hur.ian automaton completely in the power of a hypnoticlike drug, and actually knew nothing of what was going on about him, nor of the things he was taking part in.

The strange medical history of the renowned portrait painter was then outlined by the doctor. MeTnnes, he said, was born with a deformed heart, and throughout his life had suffered slight heart attacks until last October, when he had been very ill.

"Actually," the doctor continued, "Mr. Innes' heart has already failed. It is expanded as large as it is possible for it to expand."

The Coroner found that James Lowray had died from the effects of injuries received when he was knocked down by the car driven by Mclnnes, but he could not say whether or not Mclnnes' negligence had caused the accident.

Mr. Tingate said he intended to forward the depositions to the AttorneyGeneral and leave it with him to decide whether further action should be taken in the matter.