“A MARTYR TO DUTY”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 6

“A MARTYR TO DUTY”

DEATH OF SENIOR TRAFFICINSPECTOR CROSS

MAYOR’S FEELING TRIBUTE

Mr. William Gross, the City Council’s senior traffic inspector, who was knocked down, by a motor car on the Hutt Road last Saturday evening, and was removed to the hospital in a critical condition, died there yesterday afternoon.

In conveying the news to the Tram■ways Committee, the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright) said that it was a real tragedy, which all would regret. Mr. Cross was doing his duty as an officer of the council, endeavouring (at Kaiwarra) to check fierce driving by motorists, when he was knocked over, and so went to his death. He was a martyr to duty, a faithful officer, on whom one could always rely, and they would all miss his services very much.

A motion of sincere regret and. deep sympathy with the widow and child was passed on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Councillor W. J. Thompson. Mr. L. S. Drake, the Chief Motor Inspector, was very much cut up by the news of the death of Mr. Cross. "Mr. Cross,” he said, “was a most conscientious officer. I don’t know that it would be possible to find a man who was more conscientious in the performance of his duties. He was alert and dependable, and, besides that, wonderfully tactful and courteous. He will be greatly missed by' us all.” The late Mr. Cross, who was 46 years of age, came from Auckland to Wellington aliout 1908, and joined the tramway service, becoming one of the inspectors, and finally desnatch officer at the Thorndon barn. Shortly after Mr. A. J. Paterson went to Gisborne as borough engineer, a new tramway service was instituted there, and Mr. Cross was appointed, tramways manager. He retained that position for some years, and on resigning in 1913 returned to Wellington, when he rejoined the City Corporation staff as a traffic inspector. All who knew him, from heads of great business Anns to drivers of horse vehicles, testify to the consideration and tact with which Mr. Cross did his duty. Deceased was t> member of Lodffe Russell, of the Masonic Order. Tn his more youthful years he was keenly interested in athletics, and had a good record as a trooper in the South African war. Police Tribute.

“He was a man of whom any service might justly be proud,” remarked Superintendent Mcllveney to a Dominion reporter,” and I cannot tell you how deeply grieved the police force in Wellington is at his loss. He was a gentleman in the real acceptance of the word’, and the relations between his service and ours, which have always been of the best, were enhanced bv association with the late Mr. Cross. No one will miss him more keenly than we.” Eulogistic references to the qualities of the late Mr. Cross were made at the meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union last night. Members generally agreed that the deceased officer had been a great asset in the regulation of motor traffic in connection with the matches at Athletic Park. A motion of sympathy was passed with the late Mr. Cross’s relatives. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE MOTOR DRIVER ARRESTED Two hours and a half after Mr. Cross’s death, the driver of the car, Frank McDevitt, a young demonstrator in the employ of Dominion Motors. Ltd., was arrested on a charge of manslaughter. When McDevitt appeared before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Chief-Detoctive Ketnp said that a remand: until to-day week would be necessary. Accused had been arrested on warrant by Detectives Jarrold and McLennan, and since he was a single man without any encumbrances substantial bail was asked for. Mr A. B. Sicvwright, who appeared for accused, said that the man had. lieen employed by Dominion Motors, Ltd., for the past two years. He asked that reasonable bail bo fixed. The magistrate granted the remand, and fixed bail at self in £2OO, with one surety of a like amount, or two of £lOO each.

The charge against McDevitt is:— “That on April 26, 1924, at Kaiwarra, then having in your charge and under your control, a motor car on the Hutt Road which in the absence of precaution or care might endanger human life, did omit, without lawful excuse, to perform your legal duty to take reasonable precaution against and use reasonable cr.re to avoid such danger, and in consequence of .siich, omission djj cause the death of William Cross, thereby committing the crime of manslaughter on April 29.”

It transpired that the driver of the car before leaving Trentham consented to the vacant seats being filled by two warehousemen, Michael Patrick Fenton and Harold Shotlander. A sailor from H.M.S. Hood and a lady were also among tho passengers.