HUTT ROAD FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 107, 7 May 1924, Page 3

HUTT ROAD FATALITY

EVTOENCE ON-. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. / .

'On account of the departure of H.M.S. Hood to-morrow, evidence was taken thia morning of one of the. vessel's stokers, who was a passenger in the car driven by Frank M'Devitt, who stands charged with ■ manslaughter in connection with a fatality which, occurred-on the 26th Apriljon .the Hutt road/ and as a result of which William Cross, a City Corporation traffic, inspector, lost his life. Leonard Richardson, a stoker on ILM.S. Hood, said on ,the 26th April he was one of a.party of'the ship's company who' went to the Trenthanr races. Accused invited him to return home in His (accused's) car, and witness,; accepted the invitation. • Witness- tobk: the front seat on the left-hand side next to a lady passenger.. He thongh't that two gentlemen got in the car before a start was made for Wellington: . Witness had a few drinks that day. Accused drove in an ordinary, manner. Witness went to sleep, soon after starting, and woke up after feeling the car bump, after the accident. He estimated tho motor travelled about 20 yards before it pulled up. After the ; accident everybody in the car got out and went back, and found about 20 people gathered round Mr. Cross, who was set up on the road.. There were some remarks about Mr. Cross being "all right" and M'Devitt, the lady and accused'went back io the car together, and M'Devitt drove the car on 16 Wellington. On his way, »M' Devitt passed a remark about "it being an accident, and that it could not be avoided." Cross-examined by Mr. A. B. Sievwright, witness said he was perfectly sober at the'time of the "accident. He never went soundly to sleep in the car, but. only "half dozed." M'Devitt was perfectly sober, and was driving at » fair speed which witness considered was safe. 1 The car was under complete con-, trol, and there was no danger of anything happening np to the time of the accident. As far as witness could see, M'Devitt was driving .carefully. Wit ness said it "was a pretty dirty night,' raining fast, and the wind was getting up." He was not in a position before the accident to know whether they passod any cars. - Accused was remanded to the 14th May. Bail of £200 was renewed. An inquest regarding the death of Mr. Gross is being held this afternoon.