‘EXTREMELY CALLOUS’

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 11

‘EXTREMELY CALLOUS’

Coroner Criticises Witness EVIDENCE' NOT FRANK Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, July 24. “I am bound to say I am very far from being satisfied that the evidence given bv the witness Scott was quite frank. I do not think he told the court all he knows abeut the accident, said the coroner, Mr. A. J. Graham, at the conclusion of the inquest at Palmerston North to-day into the death of Dick Sue Kee, a 75 years’ old Chinaman, who was found dying on the road between Te Hero and Otaki ou the night of June 6. The identity of the driver was not established. Scott was the first man on the scene after the accident. The verdict was that the man died through being knocked down by 3 The coroner severely criticised Scott’s actions, declaring that he had been callous in the extreme to a man found severely injured on the road. “I must say, further, that Ins conduct in removing the man from the scene of the accident and dumping, or rather permitting him to get out of the car una tended while he himself went to the pictures not caring what happened to Kee, calls for the most severe condemnation, continued Mr. Graham. “I-t_ is extremely callous, and for a man in his position to behave like that is almost unbelievable I find it hard to credit that a Britisher should behave in such a heartless manner. “I hope the person responsible for this road tragedv. for his own sake and the sake of justice, will now come forward and admit his culpability and take whatever circumstances are coming. I hope the Chinese Vice-Consul who attended these proceedings will feel assured everything possible has been done by the police to investigate the circumstances of this man’s death. It is extremely unfortunate that the identity of the driver responsible has not been discovered.” Eleven witnesses gave evidence, the hearing occupying over six hours. Detec-tive-Sergeant J. Bickerdike conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police. Mr G. Tremaine appeared for deceaseds relatives, and Mr. Yue 11. Jackson. ViceConsul for China at Wellington, watched proceedings for the Chinese Consul, while Mr. 15. 11. Rhodes,'Otaki, was present in the interests of the witness, William White Scott, schoolmaster in charge of the Te Horo School.