TAXI-DRIVER ON TRIAL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 6

TAXI-DRIVER ON TRIAL

FERRY ROAD COLLISION NEGLIGENT DRIVING ALLEGED The hearing of the charge against Harold Scddon Cockburn, a taxidriver, of driving a motor-car negligently on Fitzgerald avenue on Ihc night of September 17, VXi'.i, thereby causing bodily harm to Dulcie Cameron, was commenced in the Supreme Court late yesterday afternoon before his Honour, Mr Justice Johnston, and a jury. Mr A. T. Donnelly prosecuted for the Crown, and the accused was represented by Mr P. P. J. Amodco. The Crown Case Mr Donnelly said that on (he evening of Sunday, September 17, 193:?, a uartv of three girls and three men called a Gold Band laxi to (he corner of Cashel street and Fitzgerald avenue. The car picked them up and went, toward Ferry road. At the same time, a motor-cycle driven by a young man, Ua/.elhurst. the well-known footballer, and carrying Miss Dulcie Cameron on the pillion seat, was coming down Ferry road. The vehicles met at the intersection and the girl was badly injured. The ground:; on which the Crown suggested Cockburn had been negligent were two: That he failed to give way to the motor-cycle on his right; and that he was in the circumstances travelling too fast. Mr Donnelly said that the speed had been estimated by some onlookers as 35 miles an hour, but whether or not that was correct, there was evidence that the taxi did not slow up approaching the intersection. Mr Donnelly said the case was not a bad one of its class and there was no suggestion or drink, and its gravity would vary with liie standard that juries might expect, from drivers of motor vehicles about the city. The jury would require to consider the present case without respect to the fact that the accused was a respectable young man and that his offence was not a crime in the ordinary sense of the word. Constable J. H. Quartley produced a | plan of the scene of the accident. There were two overhead lights at the corner. May Blackburn, single, said that she, with two other girls and three men. boarded the accused's taxi at Cashel street and went south along Fitzgerald avenue. She estimated the speed of the taxi at from 15 to 20 miles an hour. At the intersection of Ferry road witness saw the motorcycle on the right. Witness thought the motor-cycle was travelling at about 25 miles an hour. The motorcycle hit the car at. the rear. Condition of Victim Improved Dr. W. R. K. Hamilton said that the girl Cameron was unconscious on admission to the hospital. She had abrasions to the face, a blood clot under the scalp, and paralysis of the right side of the face, the right arm, and the right leg. She remained unconscious until October 17. There was a fairly large fracture of the right side of the skull. The injuries were very serious and were consistent with being the result of a motor accident. To Mr Amodeo: Witness saw Miss Cameron about a fortnight before Christmas, when she had improved considerably. She had been discharged about six weeks previously. She was to have come back to the hospital for treatment, but as she had not done so, witness assumed tnat she was progressing satisfactorily at home. The hearing was adjourned to 10.15 I this morning.