A FATAL DRIVE
MOTORIST CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER
(By Telegraph.)
(Special to "The Evening Post.")
CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Charges against Henry Denham of killing Daviad Forsylh and Evelyn Blanch Hildebrand by an unlawful act on 6th November were heard at the Magistrate's Court to-day. The charges arose out of a motor smash, in which the car of which the accused was driver, struck a tramway pole while returning from the races.
Archibald W. Selwood, farmer, of Washdyke, said he attended the races and afterwards went to the Racecourse Hotel and had two drinks. He left the hotel at 6 o'clock, and got into the motor-ear to go to town. A man, two ladies, and a boy also got into the car. The witness sat alongside the driver. The man who was killed sat behind the driver, and the woman \^ho was killed was in the middle of the back seat. The other woman was in the back seat immediately behind witness. Witness paid the accused his fare (ss) before lie got in. He did not know if the others paid before they started. The car went at a steady speed when they first left. Before reaching the Coach corner, witness could see that the driver "had had a spot or two."
"What do you mean by that?" asked the Chief-Detective.
"I would not say he was drunk, but you could see he had been drinking," replied witness.
On turning the corner, he continued, the car went on at a good speed, on its wrong side. Witness thonght the ear skidded when the driver tried to turn to tho correct side. Witness knew the car had hit something, but it went on some little distance before pulling up. Witness saw the two deceased lying in the back of the car, which was pretty badly smashed about the hood. Witness took the little boy out of the car into a nearby house. The speed of tho car would be about 35 miles an hour after turning the corner.
Thomas Patrick, who was driving a motor-lorry, said the accused passed him going at about 40 miles an hour.
The accused pleaded Jjpt guilty, and was committed for trial.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 10
Word Count
364A FATAL DRIVE Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 10
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