RUNAWAY CAR

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 17, 20 January 1921, Page 7

RUNAWAY CAR

CHARGES AGAINST DRIVER

EVIDENCE OF INJURED AND

OTHERS

Tho outcome of a peculiar accident in Wellington last month, whereby a runaway motor-car dashed into a stationary tramear, ■ causing injury to several persons, was the appearance before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon of Charles Joseph Clark,, charged with having, on the 15th December, 1920, caused actual bodily harm to Norman Beck under circumstances that, if death had been caused, he would have been guilty of manslaughter. There were similar charges against Clark in regard to the injuries tojssNora Stubbs, Alma Mabel Oliver, and Thomas Steel. Chief-Detec-tive Ward prosecuted, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared on behalf of the accused.

Evidence was given by Dr. P. E. Allison, medical practitioner on the staff of Wellington Hospital, regarding the admission to the Hospital of Nora Stubbs and Nqriuan Beck Jate on the evening of the 15th December. The "former w^as sufi'ering from a compound fracture of the left leg, a- cut on the skull, and bruises to the body. The patient was still an inmate of the Hospital. The other person, Norman Beck, was suffering from abrasions to the face and hands, a deep cut over the left eye, and another cut on the back of the head, ui> well- as bruises to his arms. The witness was of opinion that the injuries were such as could have been caused through collision with a motorcat. INJURED GIVE EVIDENCE. .Norman Beck, an electrical engineer, living at Derwent-street. Island Bay, detailed that on the night in question he I was assisting a friend, Miss Oliver, on to a tramcar, when he suddenly lost consciousness. He recovered whilst being conveyed to the Hospital. He was still suffering from the effects of the ■accident, of which he knew little at the time. Miss Alma Mabel Oliver said that she was boarding the car at the motorman's ■end, assisted by Mr. Beck, when she suddenly realised being dragged under the car. Witness had received injuries necessitating .medical attention, and her clothes had been torn and ruined. Another of the injured, Thomas Wiliiam Steel, a tootmaker, residing in Adelaide-road.- stated that he was about to board the tramcar when he noticed the headlights of a motor-car, which was approaching at a terrific speed. Suspecting trouble, ha tried to get- aboard, but whilst in the act he was knocked down, receiving various injuries. He had an artificial right leg, and this was smashed, while his left leg was badly in-jur-ed. The witness was unable- to stand while giving evidence. EYE-WITNESSES' AVERSION. Police-Sergeant H. Martin, wlio was on duty in Manners-street on the night' of the 15th December, stated that at about 10.20 p.m.. he noticed a niotor■car passing along Manners-street towards Coirlenay-place on its proper side of the road, at a speed which he estimated at no less than 35 mites per hour. As tha car flow past he was unable to take its number. However, he watched its progress and it appeared to travel perfectly straight, -with the lights bimsing. At the Cuba-street "corner there was a tra.mc.ir en which passengers were boarding, and as 'he motor-car proceeded towards the tram witness noticed a person fall from the back of the.ttam. \Witness hastened to the scene, and found that there- had been an accident in which four persons were injured. He next noticed a motor-car registered "Wn. 3098," on the opposite corner, but he did not sco the accused. Witness subsequently ascertained that the car was registered in accused's name. James George Finlay, Assistant City Solicitor, gave evidence as to being in Manners-street, in the vicinity of Fowlds, Ltd., when he heard a car coming from the direction of Willis-street. The car went past, and its speed attracted his attention. At the time he estimated^ the speed at about forty miles an hour. The car went on. towards a stationary tramcav, and then seemed to disappear. Witness heard a -crash and went to the scene, where he noticed a car standing just off the corner of the Union Clothing Company's building. . ' Matthew. George Sherran, a furniture maker, related being at the corner of Cuba and Manners streets when the accident occurred. He noticed the motorcar about twenty yards behind a stationary car, and coming at an excessive raie. When Hearing the tram the motor-car swerved to the left, between the tram and the footpath Witness saw three men and a woman knocked down, the latter being dragged along by the car, which came into contact with the front step of the tramcar, causing it to swerve and run round the front of-the tram, and face the Union Clothing Company's building, where it pulled up. William Barr, conductor of the Island Bay tramcar into which the motor-car collided, said that.he was on the back platform of the tramcar when it stopped at Cuba-street to pick up passengers. Witness then, noticed a motor-car pass on its proper side at a fast rate, and knock down throe people who were getting aboard the tram. The motor-car struck the front step, and swerved over to the right of the tram. Witness saw the driver of .the motor-car, and asked for his name and address, which was given as follows :■ ." C. J. Clark, 252, Queen'sdrive,' Lyall Bay." Witness also took the number of the motor-car. Witness could not say whether the accused was the person whose name he had taken. AN INTERRUPTED JOURNEY. Constable Shields stated that whilst on duty at the junction of ißintoul and Biddiford streets, Wellington South, at about 11.20 p.m. on the night of the 15th December, he observed a taxi-cab pull up, and he was called by the driver, a man named Donnelly. The accused was seated in the back of the car. Don-nelly-rexplained that the man wanted to be driven home, but this the driver refused to do, suspecting from what the man had said that ho was not safe, and had been the cause of the' accident in Manners-street. Witness said that the accused then stepped out o( the car, saying that if Donnelly did' not wish to drive him home he would catch a tramcar. On being asked by witness if it was correct that he had caused the accident, Clark replied: "I suppose so,"and if I have lam very sorry." Accused gave his correct name and address. When asked at the Wellington South police station to give his version of the affair, Clark said there was no need, as he had already made a statement to a policeman. He (Clark) did not know how the accident occurred, and in reply to a suggestion that lie might have been drunk, he said that he did not drink. He told witness' thai-he might not^ have been compos mentis. Asked for his reason for I-going out, Clark said that being such a i fine night, and feeling happy and well, he thought that he would go for a drive. Witness asked accused if lie had killed anybody, and Clark replied: "I know there was only ons woman, and I picked her uo myself." Ragarding a statement S by Donnelly that Clark must have been

absolutely mad to drive the car along as he did, the accused replied: "I may have, been mad."

To Mr. Accused's mind seemed to be a total blank as far as the accident was concerned, but. he seemed to be normal otherwise. Wit-, ness could not get a reasonable answer from Clark about the accident. There was no appearance of his having had liquor.

Charles E. Donnelly, taxi-proprietor, who was in the vicinity of the accident, said that the motor-car was travelling at about 35 miles per hour. He conveyed Mr. Steel to his home, and returned about 11 p.m., when Clark came up and asked to be taken to Lyall Bay. Clark spoke of the accident. Asked if he had been hit, he said he had got a scratch. In the motor-car he said to witness tha-j; he hoped he did not hurt anybody, and from this witness concluded that he was the driver .of the car. . Witness corroborated the evidence of Constable Shields. To Mr. o'Leary: Clark seemed to talk very little about the accident, and did not seem to know mucH about it. No normal man would have driven a car as was done on this occasion. "TALKED NONSENSE." Constable L. Revell said that, in company with Detective-Sergeant Scott, he arrested the accused on the 16th December. The whole matter was explained by Detective-Sergeant Scott to accused, who did'not appear to realise or appreciate his position. Accused said he had an idea he had been in an accident, but was not sure when or where it had occurred. Witness continued: "He (Clark) said he had a mission like Lionel Terry in the ca-use of humanity. He was not going to repeat it.by.killing a China? man, as Lionel Terry did. He was generally talking nonsense." Witness was sure that- accused was quite sober. This concluded the case for the prosecution. j Mr. O'Leary intimated that the j accused reserved his defence, and pleaded not ;guilty, and that in the Supreme | Court the case for the defence would not deal so much with the happenings at the accident as with the mental condition of the accused at the time the accident [ took place.

Clark was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.