OVER THE BANK

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 22, 26 July 1927, Page 11

OVER THE BANK

TAWA FLAT TRAGEDY

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

William John Walling was charged with that on 3rd June, 1927, near Tawa Flat, ho unlawfully killed Helen Telfer, thereby committing manslaughter. He was also charged with negligently driving a motor-car, thereby causing tho death of Helen Telfcr. .Ho pleaded not guilty. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the case, and Mr. W. Perry appeared for the accused. Mr. Macassey said it was alleged that a motor-car driven by tho accused had tried to pass another motor-car on a narrow road, with the result that the ear in which Mrs. Telfer was riding went over a bank, Mrs. Telfcr being killed, and others injured. It was alleged that the accused was negligent in trying to pass tho other motor-ear at night, and on a narrow part of the road. The first witness was Dr. It. F. Aitken, of Johusonvillc, who was called to the scono of the accident, Piebald Hill, about 7.30 p.m., on 3rd June. Ho said Mrs. Teller's neck was broken. Frederick William M'Courtie, assistant chief traffic inspector for tho Wellington City Council, produced a plan of the locality showing the width of the road as 18 feet, and tho depth of tho gully as 07 feet. There was a danger sign-post 110 feet on tho Wellington sido of tho locality. A person could not drive a car within less than 2 feet of tho precipice side of tho road, and within loss than 18 inches on tho bank side. Witness examined tho accused's car, and on the left roar mudguard saw marks which bo considered wero caused by a revolving motor tire. To Mr. Perry: At tho actual spot where the car went over tho bank there was 17 feet of available roadway. Beforo tho accident, the wire fonce was below the level of tho road.

A description of tho accident was given by Alexander Coleman, a carpenter, the driver of the car in which Mrs. Tclfer was travelling. Colemau said thoy were returning from Otaki races, and started for Wellington about 5 o'clock, witness driving. Along Tawa Flat a stream of cars was returning from the races at about 20 to 25 miles per hour. When about two or three miles on tho Wellington sido ot" Tawa Flat, Coleman said, ho noticed a car practically in front of him slewing across tho road. Witness's car was struck by a, back portion of tho other car, and his front wheels went over tho :»\k. He said he was travelling about thrco foot from tho precipice sido of tho road. His car overturned four times down the bank.

(Proceeding.)