TAITA GOKGE FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 132, 15 December 1928, Page 10

TAITA GOKGE FATALITY

' FURTHER EVIDENCE Tho inquest on Joseph O'Neill, tho victim of the Taita Gorge fatality, was continued in the Magistrate's Court today before tho Coroner (Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M.). Mr. P. J. O'Began is 'appears ing for Mrs. 0 'Neill, Mr. W. Perry for E. W. Sergent, the driver of tho taxi, Mr. P. Shorland for the Black- and White Cab Company, the ■ owners of tho taxi, and Mr. S. A. Wiren for the witness, J. E. Horsfall. Continuing his evidence, the driver, Ernest Walter Sergent,. said ' that ho had not been paid for the journey, but the meter was registering, at least up to the time of the first accident. Witness could not swe.ar it was registering after that. It was foggy in the gorgo at the time of the accident, but witness was not sleepy. Dr. Parr had come out to the scene of the accident and subsequently gave witness a certificate as to his condition. The deceased was in a very intoxicated condition at the tim» of the accident. . To the Magistrate: It was the usual thing for the Black and White Company's drivers to take intoxicated mea in their cabs. He did not know what the bylaws said about it. Sergeant J. W. M'Holm said that Sergent had called at the Lower Hutfc Police Station to report the accident early in the morning of 3rd December. Sergent was sober when witness saw him, and witness could riot find any; signs of liquor on him. Later in the day witness saw Dr. Parr, who certified as to the sobriety of Sergent after the accident. '