NEGLIGENT DRIVING

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 13

NEGLIGENT DRIVING

WALLING FOUND GUILTY

TAWA FLAT TRAGEDY

"William John Walling was found guilty in the Supremo Court last evening of negligently driving a motor-car near Tawa Flat, thereby causing, the death of Helen Telfer. He was remanded for sentence. Walling was also charged with manslaughter. Tho caso for tho defonco was continued yesterday after "The Post" went to press. ' '

Mr. Justice MacGregor presided, Mr. P. S. K. Macassey prosecuted, and. Mr. W. Perry appeared for tho accused. Egbert Meaclem, a motor mechanic, who was on the Porirua road ou 3rd June, said he followed a dark sedan car from within two miles of Porirua, to a spot a milo on- the Wellington aide of the accident. At that spot tho sedan stopped and Walling got out. WitneßS aslced him if ho was all right, and then went on. About 100 yards on tho Porirua side of the Johns'onville rise a dark sedan car passed the witness, travelling about 35 miles per hour. Mr. Macassey: "Did you see a car follow up tho sedan car?"—" No." "If Mr. Skews says that he followed the sedan and got within 10 feet of it, where were you?"—"Ho could not got within ton feet of the car." "Have you been in trouble and been declared an habitual criminal?"—"l have." Percival M'Leod, a mechanic, who examined Walling's car, said ho saw no collision, marks on it. i Harry Lionel Woolley, builder, of Eastbourne, who said ho usod to koep his car in Walling 'a garage, said he went to the garage about 8 o'clock on 4th June, the morning after tho accident, to get his car. While manoeuvring his car out of the garago his front wheel struck tho loft hand near mudguard of Walling's ear, and left a mark on. the paint. To_Mr. Macassey: "Thero were three cars in tho garage, witness's car being to the left of the sedan. As he backed ho grazed tho wall, and had to go forward again, and as he did so he struck Walling's car lightly." James Duncan Hearn, a linesman, gave, corrobative evidence . regarding the marking of the car in the garage. Edward Godwin, clerk, a passenger in Walling's car, said on the run to Wellington he never felt a jar or a bump. Evidence was also given by Robert M Voy, another passenger in Walling's car, who, in cross-examination, said thoy passed a car at the scene of tho accident on Piebald Hill, and then crossed over to the left. Albert Benard Smith, linotype operator, who was. the third passenger in Walling's car, said he would not contradict a witness who said Walling's car overtook another car at tho scene of the accident. That concluded the case for the defence. Mr. Macassey said he desired to recall evidence- regarding the marking of tho accused's car at Eastbourne. Sergeant Sparks said that ho considered that the bumper on Walling's car would prevent it from being marked. _ Constable Morrison gave corroborative evidence. The jury retired at 8.15 p.m., and returned at 9.10 p.m. with a verdict oE guilty on the negligent driving charge. Walling was remanded for sentence.