A RECENT FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 90, 13 October 1920, Page 7

A RECENT FATALITY

CORONER'S VERDICT

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

Further evidence regarding the death of Mr. Alfred Talbot Maile at the Wellington Hospital on 29th September, following his having been struck down in Courtenay-place by a motor-car driven by William Arthur Webb, was heard by Mr. J. S. Evans, District Coroner, yesterday afternoon. John Ernest Kidmer, an eye-witness of the accident, repeated, when recalled yesterday, that the hand-cart was pushed nut from the footpath in Courtenay-place from a point some feet in from the intersection of Tory-street, and did not com*, out of Tory-street. Webb's car was not one of a procession, as had been stated by a previous witness.

This morning the Coroner gave his verdict. After reviewing the evidence at length he said he saw no reason to doubt the evidence of witnesses that Webb wastravelling at an unduly fast pace. There was no traffic at the time that should have given a careful driver any difficulty m jja-ssing if he was going at a reasonable pace. He swerved to the right to avoid a hand-cart, and without slackening kept straight on in the direction ol the men, who were plainly visible to anyone keeping a look out/and without Slackening his pace or turning aside or sounding' his hqrn in time to warn the men he ran over Maile, inflicting, injuries from which he died shortly after the accident, and carried Barnard hanging on to hie car for a distance ot about 90ft, before drawing up. The whole circumstances, as disclosed by the evidence, were consistent only with reckless disregard to the safety of persons lawfully using the highway and with excessive speed. He therefore found that Maile died as the result of injuries leceived by being run over by a motor-car belonging to the —B.C. garage, and driven by William Arthur Webb recklessly, at a pace and in a manner dangerous to the public; having regard to,the traffic that was in the street at the time or that might reasonably have been expected to be in the street, contrary to the provisions of the Motor Regulations Act, 1908, and also at a speed exceeding eight miles per hour across the inter-section of Courtenay-place and Tory-street, contrary to the Wellington City bylaws. Webb was then brought before the Court on a charge of manslaughter. Chief-Detective Ward asked for a remand for a week.

This was granted, bail being fixed at « personal bond of £200, and a bond of £200 or two sureties of £100 each.