TAITA GORGE FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 27

TAITA GORGE FATALITY

EVIDENCE OF CAR-DRIVER

CONTINUATION OF INQUEST

The inquest on Joseph O’Neill, who died at the Wellington Hospital from head injuries received when the taxi in which he was a passenger left the road in the Taita Gorge early in the morning of December 3, was continued yesterday morning. Chief-Detective Ward conducted the inquest before the Coroner (Mr. J. H. Salmon. S.M.). Air. P. J. O’Regan appeared for Mrs. O’Neill: Mr. W. Perry for E. W. Sargent (driv... of the taxi) ; Mr. P. Shorland for the Black and White Cab Co.), (owners of the vehicle) ; and Mr. C. A. Wiren for Joseph Enoch Horsfall. the remaining passenger. Edward Walker Sargent, taxi-driver in the employ of the Black and White Cab Co., stated that he had had a motordriver’s license since 1905. On the night of Sunday. December 2, witness stated that while waiting on the Vivian Street stand at 7.45 o’clock, he received a call from the company’s oflice to go to Perrett’s Corner. There he picked up O Keul and a man whom he thought to be called McFedries. who lived at Miramar. He then drove to No. 82 Kent Terrace, when deceased got out of the cab,. returning after five or six minutes. Witness next

drove to College Street, stopping near Thompson and Lewis’s corner. There O'Neill had a conversation with a mnn for a minute or so, and the latter then went away and returned with six large bottles of lieer. Witness then went to Donald McLean Street, and stopped outside a house next to the church. O'Neill got out and went inside, returning shortly with the information that there was no one home. Witness said that he was next instructed fn drive to Bay Road. Tv.ilbirnie, to another house. O'Neill got out of the cab. taking with him two bottles of beer and one of whisky. After about ten minutes he enme out again. As the other man was not feeling nell and wanted to go home, witness next drove out to Miramar, where he stopped opposite the fire brigade station. He then took O’Neill back to Rent Terrace, where the latter bought some fish and chips. Deceased then asked to be driven to 51 Vivian Street. Again he said that there was nobody home. O Neill next asked to be driven to the Taranaki Street Wharf, but as there was no ship there thev proceeded to the Clyde Quay Wharf Both went aboard the Otokaia, where they roused Horsfall, the nightwatchman. who was a friend of O’Neills. The latter came down on to the deck when O’Neill asked him to' have a drink. The three went along to the ship's smoke room. Deceased remarked that he had some fish and chips in the car. and witness went down and got them. There was already some drink on the table, and he was asked to have one, too. Mr. W. Perry: I am acting for this witness, and submit that he need not answer any questions as to whether he had had any liquor during the night. The Coroner said that he did not think that the point had arisen as yet. After a while, proceeded witness, all left the ship and went down.to the taxi, where O’Neill suggested a drive. Witness said that it would be necessary to change his cab. and drove to the garage. After five or ten minutes witness left the garage, and It was decided to go in the direction of the Hutt. Witness was'asked to call in at the Taita Hotel, where he sounded his horn. A man came out on the balcony and told them to go away, witness then going on to Quinn’s Post Hotel at Upper Hutt. There tliev were admitted, and O'Neill was served with drinks. They invited him to have one. and he said that he would have a light one. , _ ~ Here Mr. Perry again interrupted the examination. His client, he said; was not obliged to answer any question regarding any drinks which he might have had. He asked the Coroner to warn him. The Coroner replied that he thought Mr. Perry would already have warned his client. .. Mr Perry: This is not my examination. Mr' Salmon then told the witness that there was no necessity to answer such questions. After leaving the Quinn’s Post Hotel, said Sargent, he was travelling on second gear at about seven or eight miles per hour, and the two in the back were arguing as to tlie road to be taken. He turned round, thinking that they wished to talk to him. and struck a post. The car was then backed out and turned toward town. He passed another Black and White cab about three-quarters of a mile ' from the railway bridge. Witness stated that he was proceeding along the correct side of the road, when, at a corner which was very foggy at the time, another ear travelling on its wrong side suddenly rounded the corner in front of him. "To avoid that car.” stated witness. "I swerved straight out to the right, and before I knew where I was had gone over the bank.” . The time of the accident, continued Sargent. was 2.30 a.m. At the bottom of the bank the cab was lying on its side, and Horsfall asked witness to get out. but he replied that he was pinned in. Witness then took out his pocket-knife and cut a strap from the pocket over tlie door, to enable himself and Horsfall to get out. O'Neill was Iving in the cab. and appeared badly hurt. While Horsfall went to get assistance witness went up on to the road, thinking that he might wait there for any passing cars. He informed a Black and White that came along that there had been an accident. The driver and a lady passenger came down to have a look at

the scene of the mishap, and then went away to get help. An ambulance came, but ‘the attendants would not touch the injured mnn until a doctor arrived. Witness asked them whether O'Neill could not be made more comfortable, and they went away, returning with blankets, with which thev covered him up. Witness waited on the'scene until the doctor’s arrival, when O’Neill was removed. He then left with the doctor, asking him to drive to the police station at Lower Hutt. Chief Detective Ward then questioned the witness as to how much liquor lie had consumed during the night, and witness acting on instructions from Mr. W. Perry, pleaded privilege. The Coroner upheld the plea. Further questioned. , witness sa:d that he had driven on to Upper Hutt because O’Neill and Horsfall suggested it. The scene of the first accident on the Upper Hutt side of Quinn's Post was level and straight. The passengers In the back were arguing about which way they should go. and witness said at the time: “If you hadn't drawn my attention. I wouldn't have hit the post.” At this stage the inquest was adjourned until 9 o’clock this morning.