WOMAN HURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 10

WOMAN HURT.

PARNELL ACCIDENT.

POLICE COURT SEQUEL

MOTORIST FOR TRIAL.

Aiii-ing out of an accident in rarnell Road on the evening of September 17 last. .John Irvine Crawford. aged 20, a traveller, appeared in the Police Court to-day before Messrs. J. B. Paterson and S. Leah, J.P.V, to answer four charge*. The charge* were: That hping in a state of intoxication whilst in charge of a motor car, by act or omission in the use thereof, he did cause bodily lwirni to Mrs. Phyllis Stevenson: that lie had failed to stop to ascertain if any person had been injured; and that he did negligently drive the car, thereby causing bodily injury.

The hearing of the charge of being intoxicated in charge of a car was adjourned wine die. Sub-Inspector Flanagan prosecuted, and Mr. J. Hogben appeared for the accused.

Dr. .T. W. Bartrum said on September 17 a Mrs. Phyllis Stevenson was admitted to the Aucklnnd Hospital, niul was in the institution for three weeks. She had a cut near the right eye, and a fracture of the right fore-arm. There was also a contusion behind the right eye and several bruises.

Saw Woman Thrown. Tasker Lindsay Coyle. suit specialist, said he rc*idcd in Parnell Koad. About <1.20 p.m. on .September 17 he was a passenger in a car driven l>y John Eugene McShane. The i-ar was proceeding along Parnell Road at about 25 mile* an hour. Witness saw a woman thrown to thp side of the road, being apparently hit by a car. After the accident witness saw a car ahead. McSharie pulled up his car, and witness and MeShane went to the injured woman. She was lying on the road unconscious. Her feet were about 2ft from the kerbing. with her head towards the centre of the road. Witness hail seen a car pass up the road after he saw the woman thrown on to the road, but could not say whether it had stopped. After the ambulance had been sent for witness noticed a car among others at the scene of the accident. He also saw the accicsed Crawford, and from his speech and manner of walking formed the opinion he hail been drinking. Witness would not say accused was drunk. There was no other vehicle on the road but the ear that he saw jii"<t before the accident which would have caused the woman to be thrown to the road. To Mr. Hoglien: Witness did not know whether the ambulance arrived before the constable. Witness saw the accused talking to the constable and heard accused say he objected to remarks made by McShane. Followed Accused's Car. Robert .T. .fames, traveller, residing in Koslyu Avenue. Remuerii. said that about f1.1.j p.m. on September 17 he was sitting in his car ileat* the Liliertv Theatre, Parnell, when lie heard a noise nnd saw a car travelling up Parnell Road towards Newmarket. The car did not stop, but appeared to slow down a little. Witness had seen an object thrown on to the street. Witness followed the car. It turned down a side street opposite the tire brigade station. It was a blind road and about lno or 120 yards from the bottom of the road witness hhw the car coming back and it was driven to the scene of the accident in Parnell Boail. about a quarter of a mile away. The number of the car was 3.3702. When the car got back to the scene of the accident the driver got out and went up to the constable. Witness did not aee any accident, but saw an object thrown oil to the road. He could not say it was a woman. Constable Gallagher said when lie arrived at the scene of the accident Mrs. Stevenson wa* being placed in an ambulance. The accused was present, and told the constable that when driving up Parnell Road he thought he had struck something, but he had not seen anything. He said he had felt a slight bump, and after proceeding 100 yards and discussing it with his passengers he decided to go back. Witltfess could not smell liquor on accused, but farmed the opinion he was intoxicated. In answer to Mr. Hogben, witness said that when he was at the scene of the in rid, nt the accused came forward ■ ind siiid who he was. Dr. 1,. If. Ait ken -aid he examined -"•I used at the police -tat ion at 7.30 | p.m. ou the night of the accident. There i was a definite slnell ot alcohol ill aci-11-. d's breath, hilt tio evidence of intoxication. Hut it accused had had -ince ii.l-i p.m. to Miher up. witness thought accused whs probably intoxicated at the time. It vvns very dilli.ult to sjiv, and a matter of speculation. 111.' accili I'll pleaded not guilty to the thipe I 1 urges, and vvn- coenritted to lb' Sill,l cine Court fur 11 ill. Rail was