MOTOR-CAR FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 4

MOTOR-CAR FATALITY.

CHAUFFEUR CHARGED WITH MAN* SLAUGHTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Hastings, February 10. As the sequel to a collision between I motor-car and bicycle at Hastings on Do ceniber 9 last, resulting in the death of lercy Thodsen, aged 11, who was riding a bicycle, Richard William Jones, driver oi tho motor-car, was charged at Hosting! Court to-day, before Mr, M'Carthy, S.M., with that ho did commit manslaughter by causing tho death of Thodsen. Lengthy evidence was taken, and hil worship in giving his decision said that tha onus was oast on the Crown to 6how that by eome omission or negligcnoo accused had caused death, and in the present caso it was not gross nogligenee, but negligent* in either doing something which ought not to have been dono or omitting to do something which should havo been dono.

Sinco swift methods of fraction had coino into existenoo the standard of oara for thoso using- tho roads had greatly increased, and tho law cast on thoso who adopted swift methods of traction a greater standard of care. Also, because the source of danger was greater, on tho evidence before him he was satisfied that no jury would bring in a verdict of manslaughter. He dismissed tho case, and pointed out to owners of swift methods of traction that whenever they had doubt as to the consequences of continuing their course, a car should bo brought to a stop. Drivers of cars had no right to gamblf with human lives.