RUNAWAY MOTOR-CAR.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17064, 8 February 1921, Page 2

RUNAWAY MOTOR-CAR.

THE WELLINGTON INCIDENT. CLARKE DECLARED INSANE. (PRESS TELEGKAM.) WELLINGTON, February 7. * As a sequel to four persons being injurecTby a runaway m# tor-car in Manners street on December 23rd, Charles Joseph Clarke appeared at the Supremo Court to-day to answer a'charge of hav ing caused actual bodily harm. Th' defence was that accused was insanat the time of the occurrence. Aft hearing evidence, including that of medical men, the jury returned the following verdict:—''We find that' the prisoner was insaile at the time of the commission of the offence, and we declare that we acquit him 011 account of his insanity." Tho following riders woro added:—(l) Regarding granting licenses, we think that steps ought to be taken by the City Council before granting a license to instruct applicants that a medical certificate ought to bo produced; (2) we also think that steps ought to be taken to see that the- speed limit is reduced ill the busy streets pf the city." In answer to his Honour, the foreman of the jury said that the speed limit in the city was sixteen miles an hour. His Honour said that he would'communicate tho matter to the Minister of Justice. The verdict of the jurv was reduced to the special form provided by the Act, and the prisoner was ordered to be kept in strict custody at the mental hospital at Porirua during the pleasure of the Minister of Justice.